Atlantic City — Make no mistake, Jesus Pinedo is not sounding at all intimidated by the undefeated Movlid Khaybulaev ahead of this Friday’s PFL World Tournament featherweight final.
Peru’s Pinedo (25-6-1) exclaimed during Wednesday’s PFL Atlantic City media day session that “I came for the money, the belt, and to take his zero.”
The 29-year old, like Khaybulaev, has won a PFL tournament before. Still, the Dagestani remains undefeated, considered one of the best featherweights in the world for years. “Movlid has never fought anyone like me, and my game plan is to rip his head off,” Pinedo countered. “That will be his biggest issue on the night.”
With the likes of Aaron Pico and Patricio Pitbull now in the UFC, the PFL’s 145lb division is wide open. The Champions Series belt would appear to be up for grabs. Jesus Pinedo, however, is not getting ahead of himself.
“Right now I’m not really focused on other fights. My main focus is Movlid this night. And after that, I’ll kind of just see what PFL puts on my plate, and from there we’ll figure out the next opponent. But Movlid is my number one task right now.”
Beating a fellow former PFL Global season champ is a bit of extra motivation, mind you. Pinedo admitted as much, adding “I take every fight extremely seriously, and nothing changes here. But there’s an extra sense of motivation given the type of fighter and athlete that Movlid is. So it’s helped me prepare myself physically and mentally more for this fight.”
Watch the full PFL Atlantic City media day appearance with Jesus Pinedo above. The card takes place Friday, August 1, 2025.
