Featherweight Adam Borics was forced out of last year’s PFL season, but gets another shot this year, in the promotion’s new-look, grand prix-style World Tournament.
The differences are subtle yet important: prize money is cut in half, but comes on top of each fighter’s regular purse. Gone is the rather convoluted points system that saw finishes worth more than decisions; instead, it’s a win or go home grand prix, and the bracket is clear from the outset.
Speaking with Cageside Press ahead of this year’s PFL 1 card in Orlando, FL, Borics (19-2) explained what took him out of action in 2024.
“I just fractured my ankle doing my wrestling, my partner did some stupid movement, but it is what it is,” he stated. “After that, I really wanted to fight again one more time that year, because it was just like, two months, three, four, it wasn’t like a serious injury. I couldn’t fight because it was a fractured ankle, but it was good after two months. It took me a year to go fight again, so I’m super-excited.”
Borics had tried to get on one of the Bellator cards in the fall, but unfortunately, several of those wound up postponed/cancelled (the promotion has since been folded into the PFL). “Maybe that’s why I couldn’t fight.”
The change in format isn’t something that really has Adam Borics approaching the PFL World Tournament any differently. “For me, the last season was the same. It was like, win or go home,” he stated. “I’m not thinking about the next fight, or what if I get this fight after that. I go for the semifinal now, I’m just focused on Jesus Pinedo now.”
Borics’ unwillingness to look ahead stems from his past, in fact. Though the bracket is set, he’s laser-focused on PFL 1 opponent Jesus Pinedo for good reason.
“I was in the Bellator grand prix back then [in 2020], and when I was facing [off] against Darrion Caldwell, I was already on A.J. McKee in my mind. And I got my first loss in my life. I’m never going to do that mistake again.”
Breaking down Pinedo, Borics admitted that the Brazilian is “a tough dude. He was a former champ, and I respect him.” However, he added, “he’s just another step in front of me.”
Borics did admit that he’s worried about his opponent making weight. Pinedo missed the mark for a 2023 fight with Bubba Jenkins, and last year saw a fight with Jeremy Kennedy cancelled when he again missed the mark. “He has to just make weight, that’s it. That’s what I care about, because he had some issues in the last couple of years, and if I make weight, I really want to fight.”
Watch our full interview with 2025 PFL 1’s Adam Borics above. The event takes place on Thursday, April 3, 2025 in Orlando, FL.
