Preview: 2023 PFL Championships

PFL Featherweight Championship

Gabriel Braga (12-0, 3-0 PFL) vs. Jesus Pinedo (22-6-1, 2-1 PFL): This is a rematch of a PFL 1 meeting where Braga edged Pinedo via split decision after accepting the bout on 24 hours’ notice. The deciding factor in that fight was Braga’s effective low kicks, but it might be best not to read too much into that result given the circumstances. Braga deserves credit for building upon that momentum, as he stopped a shopworn Marlon Moraes before outpacing Chris Wade to reach the featherweight final. Pinedo, meanwhile, looked dynamic in scoring finishes of preseason favorites Brendan Loughnane and Bubba Jenkins. It is worth noting that Pinedo failed to make weight for his semifinal bout against Jenkins, so that detracts somewhat from what was a dominant performance. With seven decisions among 12 professional victories, Braga is, for the most part, not a dangerous finisher. However, he combines solid boxing with damaging leg kicks, constant forward pressure and sound defense to make himself a difficult out for virtually any opponent. One of the most impressive aspects of his semifinal win over Wade was his ability to set a pace the UFC veteran was unable to match. The rangy Pinedo is the more dynamic finisher—though he was unable to hurt Braga in their first meeting—who can utilize stance switches and attack from unusual angles. Pinedo can also hinder his opponent’s forward movement with dangerous knees in close quarters. It will be interesting to see what adjustments Pinedo makes with more time to prepare for Braga, and it is hard to overlook how impressive the Peruvian was in his last two PFL appearances. Pinedo gets revenge in the rematch, though he might need to go to the scorecards to do so.

Featherweights

Bubba Jenkins (21-7, 7-3 PFL) vs. Chris Wade (23-10, 11-7 PFL): Neither Jenkins nor Wade are where they hoped to be at this point in the PFL campaign, but both men should find plenty of motivation to win the rubber match of what has become a bitter rivalry. In their first meeting in the 2021 postseason, Wade was able to negate Jenkins’ wrestling by constantly forcing scrambles and threatening with submissions while proving to be the more diverse striker on the feet. The rematch was more of Jenkins’ type of fight, as he relied on takedowns, control and airtight submission defense to cruise to a decision win. At 36 years old and with losses in three of his last four bouts, Wade seems to be trending downward. The same might be said for the 35-year-old Jenkins, who is 2-2 in his last four but was battered by Jesus Pinedo and Brendan Loughnane in technical knockout defeats. Jenkins, a former NCAA national champion wrestler, has the most outstanding singular skill and is probably the better overall athlete. “I’m a Bad Man” wins a decision that looks somewhat similar to their most recent meeting.

Amateur Lightweights

Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Joel Lopez: For those looking for nuanced analysis of amateur MMA, you have come to the wrong place. The PFL’s investment is in Walsh and in Walsh alone. The grandson of the late Muhammad Ali has finished four straight foes in PFL competition, and there is no reason to think Lopez will not be the fifth. The only suspense here is whether Walsh elects to turn professional at some point in 2024.

Bantamweights

Phil Caracappa (10-3, 0-0 PFL) vs. Khai Wu (7-4, 0-0 PFL): If the PFL is mining for prospects, this is a curious place to start. A competitor on Season 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series, Caracappa has lost three of his last five outings. Wu, meanwhile, has dropped two of his last three fights and also went 0-2 during a brief Bellator stint in 2018. Caracappa, who trains at Dante Rivera BJJ, has more quality wins on his ledger and is fighting closer to home. He wins by decision or submission.

Featherweights

Jesse Stirn (15-6, 0-2 PFL) vs. Josh Blyden (9-2, 0-0 PFL): Stirn returns to PFL competition for the first time since dropping back-to-back fights against Sheymon Moraes and Anthony Dizy in 2021. The Windsor Mill, Maryland, native has won four consecutive bouts on the regional scene since then. He seems to be set up nicely for success against Blyden, a 36-year-old featherweight who has not fought in more than two and a half years. Stirn gets the job done inside the distance.

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