Tag: PFL 2019 World Championship

NAC delays Daniel Pineda hearing until next month; four other fighters face sanctions

PFL featherweight Daniel Pineda is out of his $1M fight with Lance Palmer after his NAC hearing was postponed until next month.

PFL dark horse [autotag]Daniel Pineda[/autotag] won’t compete on New Year’s Eve after all.

The former UFC fighter’s improbable run in the 2019 PFL featherweight playoffs was one of the main storylines leading into the finals on Dec. 31 in New York.

However on Nov. 14, MMA Junkie learned Pineda had failed a drug test. The positive result, stemming from an Oct. 17 test, means he is out of his $1M championship fight with Lance Palmer. Palmer will instead face alternate Alex Gilpin, per sources with knowledge of the situation.

In a post on social media, Pineda denied having taken any “steroids” and indicated sex pills may have been the culprit.

Furthermore, Pineda’s manager, Jason House, issued the following statement to MMA Junkie:

“Right now we’re in the process of researching what could have led to a positive test. We plan on appealing the decision once all information is gathered.”

On Wednesday, the Nevada Athletic Commission held their monthly meeting and Pineda’s case was one of the topics on the agenda.

Initially, Pineda’s representative was eager to plead his case to the commission. However before he could get started, the NAC informed him by doing so, he’d forfeit his ability to reach a settlement, something Pineda’s team also seemingly wanted to do.

After a 15-minute intermission, Pineda’s representative elected not to argue his case before the commission Wednesday. Instead, the hearing was tabled until the NAC’s next meeting in January.

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Pineda wasn’t the only PFL fighter who had a hearing Wednesday. Light heavyweight [autotag]Alex Nicholson[/autotag] was suspended four years and fined over $15,000 for testing positive for three anabolic steroids, stemming from an Oct. 31 test.

Additionally, former UFC fighter and TUF 13 runner-up [autotag]Ramsey Nijem[/autotag] was suspended nine months and fined 15 percent of his purse ($3,750),as a result of a positive test for marijuana metabolites. Nijem didn’t respond to the NAC’s inquiries regarding the test.

[autotag]Luiz Rafael Laurentino[/autotag] was suspended 12 months, as a result of a positive test for stanozolol, an androgenic anabolic steroid. The Brazilian was also fined 20 percent of his purse ($5,000) and will have to pay an additional $363.40 in prosecution fees. Laurentino didn’t respond to the NAC’s inquiries regarding the test.

Former TUF Brazil competitor and UFC fighter [autotag]Glaico Franca[/autotag] also went before the commission. Like Pineda, Franca’s temporary suspension was extended and his hearing was tabled until January.

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Brendan Loughnane ‘extremely content’ in PFL; can’t wait to fight on New Year’s Eve

PFL featherweight Brendan Loughnane feels confident he made the right decision.

[autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] feels confident he made the right decision.

After getting passed over for a UFC contract due to a late takedown during his “Dana White’s Contender Series” fight, Loughnane inked a deal with PFL in the fall.

Despite being unable to partake in the 2019 tournament season which had already started, Loughnane was booked right away for a showcase fight. At PFL 2019: Playoffs 1 in early October, Loughnane won his promotional debut against Matt Wagy by unanimous decision.

Less than two months later, Loughnane has been rebooked for the PFL 2019 championship card. On New Year’s Eve, Loughnane (28-3 MMA) will take on David Valente at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The promotion announced the booking Thursday.

“These guys are amazing,” Loughnane told MMA Junkie, about his experience with the PFL. “They promised me seven fights. Five in the tournament and two before the end of the year. I can’t complain. I just fought in Mandalay Bay and now I’m about to fight in Madison Square Garden. PFL is really delivering the goods.

“(I’m) extremely happy, extremely content. They work great with me. I work great with them. It’s a great partnership and I really look forward to putting myself in the mix next year for the $1 million.”

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The $1 million Loughnane refers to is next year’s tournament prize. He’s already been promised a slot in the PFL 2020 featherweight season. While doesn’t want to look past his opponent on Dec. 31, Loughnane can’t help but set long-term goals.

“I can’t overlook David Valente,” Loughnane said. “He’s a dangerous fighter. But next year is the goal – the $1 million. That’s what I signed up for.”

Loughnane had the opportunity to visit New York’s Madison Square Garden for the first time in early November. He attended UFC 244 to support his friend Darren Till. Walking in the arena, Loughnane was struck by its magnitude.

“(It) gives me goose bumps,” Loughnane said. “The most prestigious arena on earth. I recently went there for the (Jorge) Masvidal fight to support my boy Darren Till. It was my first time in New York.

“It was my first time in the arena. I literally walked in and I had to walk back out and take a second to myself. Like, ‘Wow. I’m going to be fighting here.’ One of those surreal moments.”

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Loughnane’s fight against Valente (11-4 MMA) will take place as part of the Jan. 31 undercard. After Loughnane and Valente compete, the $1 million final between the 2019 finalists will go down.

“I get to see what I’m up against,” Loughnane said. “Lance Palmer is like 9-0 in there now. He’s absolutely killing it. He’s the guy to beat. I hear there’s a bit of a change-up next year. I hear they’re changing the roster a lot. There’s going to be some savages in there, chasing that big money prize. ”

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PFL 2019: Check out the finishes that powered the last 12 to the New York finale

Check out the best finishes as the stars of the PFL secured their places in the end-of-year finale in New York.

The PFL’s sophomore season comes to a close in just 30 days’ time, as New York’s Madison Square Garden plays host to the 2019 season finale, with six end-of-season titles up for grabs.

The main event will see two-time Olympic judo gold medalist [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (6-0 MMA, 6-0 PFL) look to secure the first major title of her MMA career when she takes on Brazil’s [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 2-1 PFL) in the women’s lightweight final.

While Harrison is looking to claim her maiden MMA title, reigning PFL champions [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag] (21-3 MMA, 9-0 PFL) and [autotag]Natan Schulte[/autotag] (19-3-1 MMA, 7-0-1 PFL) return to finals day looking to successfully repeat their season one finishes.

Featherweight Palmer takes on replacement finalist [autotag]Alex Gilpin[/autotag] (14-3 MMA, 2-2 PFL) after his original opponent, Daniel Pineda, was pulled from the card following notice of a potential anti-doping violation.

And Brazilian lightweight Schulte will bid to successfully repeat his season one victory when he takes on Tajikistan’s [autotag]Loik Radzhabov[/autotag] (13-1-1 MMA, 2-1-1 PFL).

Also familiar with competing in the season finale is welterweight [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] (19-7-1 MMA, 6-2-1 PFL), who lost out to Magomed Magomedkerimov in last year’s welterweight final. This time he’ll look go one step further and capture the 170-pound title against [autotag]David Michaud[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 3-1 PFL).

Also set for finals action are [autotag]Emiliano Sordi[/autotag] 21-8 MMA, 5-1 PFL) and [autotag]Jordan Johnson[/autotag] (12-1-1 MMA, 2-1-1 PFL), who face off for the light heavyweight title, while undefeated [autotag]Ali Isayev[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 4-0 PFL) and [autotag]Jared Rosholt[/autotag] (20-7 MMA, 6-3 PFL) will battle for the 2019 heavyweight championship.

Each finalist had to book their place in the Madison Square Garden finale by progressing through back-to-back bouts at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas back in October and, as the video above shows, the playoffs produced a feast of finishes in Sin City as the PFL’s best did battle in a bid to punch their ticket to New York.

Now they each stand just one victory away from a PFL title, and a cool $1 million prize.

PFL 2019 Finale championship bouts include:

  • Kayla Harrison vs. Larissa Pacheco – women’s lightweight final
  • Ray Cooper III vs. David Michaud – welterweight final
  • Lance Palmer vs. Alex Gilpin – featherweight final
  • Natan Schulte vs. Loik Radzhabov – lightweight final
  • Emiliano Sordi vs. Jordan Johnson – light heavyweight final
  • Ali Isayev vs Jared Rosholt – heavyweight final

Daniel Pineda fails drug test, leaving $1 million PFL matchup in jeopardy

Daniel Pineda has failed a drug test, which will likely knock him out of his $1 million final against Lance Palmer on Dec. 31.

[autotag]Daniel Pineda[/autotag] might not be fighting in the PFL finals on New Year’s Eve after all.

Pineda (28-13), who reached the featherweight playoff final, has failed a Nevada Athletic Commission-administered drug test. Without being overturned, the test likely will knock him out of his $1 million featherweight final against Lance Palmer on Dec. 31.

A person with knowledge of the situation told MMA Junkie of the positive drug test on Thursday. The person asked to remain anonymous since neither the promotion nor the NAC has made an announcement.

The exact substance or reason for Pineda’s test failure is not known. It’s also unclear who would replace Pineda in the tournament final if he’s not allowed to compete.

When contacted, Pineda’s manager, Jason House, issued the following statement to MMA Junkie:

“Right now we’re in the process of researching what could have led to a positive test. We plan on appealing the decision once all information is gathered.”

Pineda later took to Twitter claiming that “no steroids or drugs” were found in his system.

The PFL declined to comment on the matter. The NAC could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.

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Pineda, who has UFC experience, was an improbable underdog entering the semifinals in mid-October. Without having competed once in the regular season, Pineda replaced injured Damon Jackson in the playoffs.

In the first of two scheduled fights in the same night, Pineda finished Movlid Khaybulaev in 29 seconds by knockout. His second performance against Jeremy Kennedy took a little bit longer, but Pineda got the job done by first-round guillotine choke.

PFL’s 2019 playoff finals take place Dec. 31 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The card airs on ESPN2.