Introduction
Daniel Pineda (born August 6, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Professional Fighters League. A professional competitor since 2007, he has also competed for the UFC, Bellator, and EliteXC.
Mixed martial arts career
Legacy Fighting Championship
Pineda was the Featherweight Champion of Legacy Fighting Championship. None of his fights with Legacy went to decision with notable wins over fighters such as WEC veteran Frank Gomez. Pineda's fights with Legacy Fighting Championships were always exciting and his last fight with Legacy Fighting Championships before he went to the UFC ended in a TKO by spinning backfist at Legacy Fighting Championships 9. He is now scheduled to face former WEC and UFC fighter Leonard Garcia for the featherweight title at Legacy Fighting Championship 37 in November.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
In early January 2012, it was announced that Pineda had been signed to the UFC.
He made his debut on January 20, 2012 at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller against fellow UFC newcomer Pat Schilling.Pineda won the fight via submission in the first round.
Pineda faced Mackens Semerzier on March 3, 2012 at UFC on FX 2, replacing an injured Robbie Peralta.He won the fight via triangle armbar in the first round.
Pineda faced Mike Brown on May 26, 2012 at UFC 146. Pineda lost the bout via unanimous decision.
Pineda faced Antonio Carvalho on July 21, 2012 at UFC 149, replacing an injured George Roop. Pineda lost the fight after he was knocked out for the first time in his professional MMA career.
Pineda returned after a layoff to face Justin Lawrence on April 13, 2013 at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale. Pineda won the fight via submission in the first round, earning Submission of the Night honors for his performance.
Pineda faced Diego Brandão on August 17, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 26 He lost the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.
Pineda faced Robert Whiteford on March 15, 2014 at UFC 171. He lost the fight via unanimous decision, and was subsequently was released from the UFC.
Return to Legacy FC
Following his UFC release, Pineda re-signed with Legacy Fighting Championships in July 2014.
Pineda faced Leonard Garcia at Legacy FC 37 on November 14, 2014. He won the fight via submission in the first round.
Pineda next faced Thomas Webb at Legacy FC 39 on February 28, 2015. He won the fight via submission early in the first round.
Return to Bellator MMA
After nearly a six year absence, Pineda returned to the Bellator MMA promotion in 2016.He faced Emmanuel Sanchez on the main card at Bellator 149 on February 19, 2016.He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Pineda faced Mark Dickman at Bellator 161 on September 16, 2016. He won the fight via submission in the third round.
Pineda faced Georgi Karakhanyan at Bellator 182 on August 25, 2017. He lost via doctor stoppage in the second round due to a cut.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Katana Cagefighting
- KC Featherweight Championship (One time)
- Legacy Fighting Championship
- Legacy FC Featherweight Championship (One time)
- Two successful title defenses
- Fury FC
- Fury FC Interim Featherweight Championship (One time)
- Fury FC Lightweight Championship (One time)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Submission of the Night (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 41 matches | 28 wins | 13 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 2 |
| By submission | 19 | 6 |
| By decision | 0 | 5 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC | 26–13 (2) | Jeremy Kennedy | NC (overturned) | PFL 8 | October 17, 2019 | 1 | 4:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | 2019 PFL Featherweight Semifinal bout. Originally a submission (guillotine) win for Pineda; overturned after testing positive for a banned substance. |
| NC | 26–13 (1) | Movlid Khaibulaev | NC (overturned) | 1 | 0:29 | 2019 PFL Featherweight Quarterfinal bout. Originally a TKO (punches) win for Pineda; overturned after testing positive for a banned substance. | |||
| Win | 26–13 | Rey Trujillo | TKO (strikes) | Fury FC 32 | May 24, 2019 | 1 | 0:51 | Humble, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 25–13 | Elias Rodriguez | Submission (guillotine choke) | Fury FC 28 | December 15, 2018 | 1 | 0:51 | Humble, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 24–13 | Dimitre Ivy | Submission (triangle choke) | Fury FC 25 | July 20, 2018 | 1 | 1:10 | Humble, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 23–13 | Josh Davila | TKO (punches) | LFA 35 | March 9, 2018 | 2 | 0:58 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 22–13 | Georgi Karakhanyan | TKO (doctor stopage) | Bellator 182 | August 25, 2017 | 2 | 4:05 | Verona, New York, United States | |
| Win | 22–12 | Mark Dickman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 161 | September 16, 2016 | 3 | 2:07 | Cedar Park, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 21–12 | Emmanuel Sanchez | Decision (split) | Bellator 149 | February 19, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 21–11 | Jonny Carson | Submission (kimura) | Legacy FC 41 | April 3, 2015 | 3 | 1:45 | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 20–11 | Thomas Webb | Submission (triangle choke) | Legacy FC 39 | February 27, 2015 | 1 | 0:49 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 19–11 | Leonard Garcia | Submission (kimura) | Legacy FC 37 | November 14, 2014 | 1 | 1:54 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 18–11 | Robert Whiteford | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 171 | March 15, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 18–10 | Diego Brandão | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen | August 17, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 18–9 | Justin Lawrence | Submission (kimura) | The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale | April 13, 2013 | 1 | 1:35 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Submission of the Night. |
| Loss | 17–9 | Antonio Carvalho | KO (punches) | UFC 149 | July 21, 2012 | 1 | 1:11 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Loss | 17–8 | Mike Brown | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 146 | May 26, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–7 | Mackens Semerzier | Submission (triangle-armbar) | UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann | March 3, 2012 | 1 | 2:05 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Win | 16–7 | Pat Schilling | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller | January 20, 2012 | 1 | 1:37 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 15–7 | Gilbert Jimenez | TKO (spinning backfist) | Legacy Fighting Championship 9 | December 16, 2011 | 2 | 1:37 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 14–7 | Frank Gomez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Legacy Fighting Championship 7 | July 22, 2011 | 3 | 2:25 | Houston, Texas, United States | Defended Legacy FC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–7 | Ray Blodgett | KO (punch) | Legacy Fighting Championship 6 | April 9, 2011 | 1 | 0:58 | Houston, Texas, United States | Defended Legacy FC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 12–7 | Levi Forrest | Submission (heel hook) | Legacy Fighting Championship 5 | January 29, 2011 | 1 | 2:49 | Houston, Texas, United States | Non-title bout. |
| Win | 11–7 | Reynaldo Trujillo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Legacy Fighting Championships | July 31, 2010 | 1 | 1:58 | Houston, Texas, United States | Won the Legacy FC Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 10–7 | Chas Skelly | Submission (kneebar) | Bellator 19 | May 20, 2010 | 2 | 2:16 | Grand Prairie, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 10–6 | James King | TKO (punches) | KOK 8: The Uprising | February 27, 2010 | 1 | 4:30 | Austin, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 9–6 | Douglas Frey | Submission (heel hook) | SWC 9: Redemption | November 28, 2009 | 2 | 1:55 | Frisco, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 8–6 | Chas Skelly | Submission | SWC 8: Night of Rumble | September 18, 2009 | 1 | 2:12 | Frisco, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 8–5 | Johnny Bedford | Submission (triangle choke) | SWC 7: Discountenance | June 20, 2009 | 2 | 2:58 | Frisco, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 8–4 | Kyle Miers | Submission (rear-naked choke) | International Xtreme Fight Association | June 6, 2009 | 1 | 1:24 | Vinton, Louisiana, United States | |
| Loss | 8–3 | Roberto Vargas | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 6 | May 8, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Robstown, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Johnny Bedford | Submission (kneebar) | SWC 3: St. Valentine's Day Massacre | February 21, 2009 | 1 | 2:00 | Frisco, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | Ira Evanson | Submission (armbar) | Katana Cagefighting | December 6, 2008 | 2 | 1:22 | Robstown, Texas, United States | Won the Katana Cagefighting Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 6–2 | Scott Bear | Submission (choke) | Legacy Fighting Championships 2 | August 23, 2008 | 2 | N/A | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Vince Libardi | TKO (punches) | South Coast Promotions | July 18, 2008 | 1 | 1:13 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | John Alvarez | TKO (punches) | Katana Cagefighting | May 17, 2008 | 2 | 2:04 | Robstown, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Warren Stewart | TKO (punches) | Urban Rumble Championships 1 | April 4, 2008 | 1 | 1:42 | Pasadena, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 3–1 | Lim Jae-Suk | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EliteXC: Renegade | November 10, 2007 | 1 | 2:42 | Corpus Christi, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Kierre Gooch | Submission (choke) | Renegades Extreme Fighting | October 20, 2007 | 2 | 0:59 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Warren Stewart | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Art of War 2 | May 11, 2007 | 1 | 2:00 | Austin, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jeremy Mahon | Submission (rear-naked choke) | IFC: Caged Combat | April 13, 2007 | 1 | 1:03 | Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |