In a surprising turn of events, one of the semifinalists on Friday’s opening fight card of the PFL playoffs in San Antonio, Texas, missed weight on Thursday. Featherweight Jesus Pinedo stepped on the scale at 146.4 pounds, which is 0.4 pounds over the limit. This could potentially lead to a bizarre circumstance for the final match.
The Weight Penalty and Playoff Implications
As a consequence of missing weight, Pinedo, the fourth-seeded fighter, will forfeit 20% of his purse. Additionally, if the fight goes the distance, he will have one point deducted from his score for the league’s purposes. It is important to note that this penalty will not affect the official scorecards, but rather the PFL’s playoff scenario.
If the judges score the three-round bout 29-28 in favor of Pinedo, the PFL will treat it as a 28-28 draw. Despite losing on the official scorecards, the PFL confirmed that the first tiebreaker in this scenario would be making weight. This means that Bubba Jenkins, Pinedo’s opponent, would advance to the final, even though he did not win on the scorecards.
Consistent Weight Compliance in Other Semifinal Matches
Fortunately, the other featherweight semifinalists, Gabriel Braga and Chris Wade, successfully made weight for their respective matches. Both fighters weighed in under the limit, with Braga at 145.8 pounds and Wade at 146 pounds. This ensures a fair competition between these two athletes without any complications relating to weight discrepancies.
Moving on to the light heavyweight division, all four semifinalists successfully made weight. Josh Silveira, Ty Flores, Marthin Hamlet, and Impa Kasanganay weighed in under the limit. These fighters demonstrated professionalism and commitment by adhering to the weight requirements, setting the stage for an exciting and fair competition.
The main card for Friday’s PFL playoffs will take place at Boeing Center at Tech Point and will be broadcasted on ESPN and ESPN+. The event is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET, with prelims available to watch on ESPN+ starting at 6:30 p.m. Fight fans can expect a night filled with intense matchups and the thrill of determining who will advance to the final in each division.
Missing weight in the PFL playoffs can have significant consequences for fighters. Not only do they face financial penalties, but it also affects the playoff scenarios and can result in unexpected outcomes. However, in the case of a draw, the tiebreaker is based on the fighters’ ability to make weight. This emphasizes the importance of discipline and compliance with the regulations set forth by the PFL. As the playoffs continue, fans can anticipate high-stakes battles and the ultimate determination of this season’s champions.
Leave a Reply