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Featherweight · “The Pit”

Daniel Pineda

28-17-0 (2 NC) UFC 5-8-0 (1 NC)
One-Punch Power Submission Threat Fast Starter Taken Down Often
5'7"Height
69"Reach
OrthodoxStance
41Age
1KO wins
4Sub wins
100.0%Finish rate
9:02Avg fight

Skill profile

Rated 0–100 · where 138 MMA has read him, his grades and tags set each axis and the stats only nudge inside his band · stats alone where he is silent · the rim is reserved for specialists
Striking — Average, rated 55 of 100 · 138 MMA: striking decent · Oct 2024 · stats read 43 → nudged +1 inside the band · tag ko power: elite (+12) · claims striking power +1, pressure +1 (+2) Accuracy — Above avg, rated 71 of 100 · stats only — nothing in his reads bears on this axis Striking D — Below avg, rated 25 of 100 · stats only — nothing in his reads bears on this axis Durability — Below avg, rated 32 of 100 · stats only — nothing in his reads bears on this axis Wrestling — Below avg, rated 44 of 100 · 138 MMA whiteboard: wrestling decent · May 2023 · stats read 70 → nudged +5 inside the band TD Defense — Below avg, rated 28 of 100 · 138 MMA whiteboard: wrestling decent (no takedown-defence tag), half-weighted with the stats read 17 Grappling — Elite, rated 98 of 100 · 138 MMA: grappling very good · Oct 2024 · stats read 89 → nudged +4 inside the band · tag sub threat: elite (+12) · claims sub offense +2, ground and pound +1 (+5) Control — Above avg, rated 75 of 100 · claims top control +1, ground and pound +1 (+6) Striking Accuracy Striking D Durability Wrestling TD Defense Grappling Control
striking decent
3 analyst reads graded this phase
  • decent UFC Fight Night Pereira vs Hernandez Full Card Analysis, Prediction & Breakdown (UFC Vegas 99) · October 16, 2024 watch ↗
  • decent UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 · July 23, 2024 watch ↗
  • decent UFC Fight Night Vera vs Sandhagen Predictions And Full Card Breakdown UFC Fight Night San Antonio · March 21, 2023 watch ↗
grappling very good
3 analyst reads graded this phase
  • very good UFC Fight Night Pereira vs Hernandez Full Card Analysis, Prediction & Breakdown (UFC Vegas 99) · October 16, 2024 watch ↗
  • good UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 · July 23, 2024 watch ↗
  • good UFC Fight Night Vera vs Sandhagen Predictions And Full Card Breakdown UFC Fight Night San Antonio · March 21, 2023 watch ↗
wrestling decent whiteboard
2 analyst reads graded this phase
  • decent UFC Fight Night Kara-France vs Albazi Predictions & Full Card Breakdown (UFC Vegas 74) · May 30, 2023 · whiteboard watch ↗
  • decent UFC Fight Night Vera vs Sandhagen Predictions And Full Card Breakdown UFC Fight Night San Antonio · March 21, 2023 watch ↗
cardio not yet read
durability not yet read
striking decent 3 reads
grappling very good 3 reads
wrestling decent 2 reads · whiteboard
cardio not yet read
durability not yet read

138 MMA anchors Striking, Wrestling, Grappling · his tags and claims adjust TD Defense, Control · stats alone on Accuracy, Striking D, Durability.

One-Punch Power 138 MMA · Oct 2024 tags ko power: elite
Submission Threat 138 MMA · Oct 2024 tags sub threat: elite
Fast Starter 138 MMA · Oct 2024 tags pace: fast starter
Taken Down Often put on his back 24 times · 2.8 per 15 min
Career rates — the raw numbers behind the chart
Sig. strikes landed / min2.85
Sig. strikes absorbed / min3.26
Striking accuracy49.6%
Striking defense45.8%
Knockdowns / 15 min0.24
Takedowns / 15 min1.42
Takedown accuracy24.0%
Takedown defense54.7%
Sub attempts / 15 min1.54
Control time25.9%
Record vs .500+ opponents2-5

Insider info

4 analyst reads · 138 MMA · our paraphrase, never his words
vs Darren Elkins coinflip UFC Fight Night Pereira vs Hernandez Full Card Analysis, Prediction & Breakdown (UFC Vegas 99) · October 16, 2024
strikingdecent grapplingvery good wrestlingdecent

Pick is stated plainly twice, but immediately followed by the root-beer hedging idiom and a generalized statement doubting both men's floor; a named winner plus a hedging idiom caps at coinflip.

Pineda is a very dangerous, well-rounded grappler -- good takedowns, a slick submission arsenal, good top control and ground-and-pound -- with decent striking backed by real power and an exceptional finishing record (all 28 career wins by finish). He starts extremely fast in a kill-or-be-killed style that the analyst says can also lead him to gas out. His path to the win is explicitly the submission, against an opponent who has never been caught.

Strengthvery good, well-rounded grappler with a slick submission arsenal
Strengthgood top control/ground-and-pound
Strengthreal power, exceptional finishing record
Strengthfast starter
Weaknesskill-or-be-killed fast start can lead to gassing out
ko power · elitesub threat · elitepace · fast startercompetition quality · tested
vs Nathaniel Wood clear UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 · July 23, 2024 · 1 read since
strikingdecent grapplinggood wrestlingdecent

states outright Wood is 'the better fighter' and 'yes I think he wins'; the separate line about staying away from betting Wood is explicit wager caution tied to his price as 'a very big favorite,' not doubt about who wins -- a dual hedge kept apart per the pick-shape rule, so the pick stands at clear rather than being demoted.

An older finisher whose every pro win has come by stoppage, and whose danger is front-loaded: a slick, outstanding submission arsenal plus very good ground-and-pound if he grabs hold of someone before the midway point, backed by very good power on the feet. Past that window, his gas tank falls apart quickly.

Strengthvery good, highly opportunistic submission game -- rated only 'good' overall instead of higher because it is a round-one weapon
Strengthvery good ground-and-pound
Strengthvery good power, aggressive 'kill or be killed' finisher
Strengthdangerous fast start
Weaknesscardio falls off a cliff after the first round
pace · fast startersub threat · eliteko power · goodfinish window · early
vs Alex Caceres clear UFC Fight Night Kara-France vs Albazi Predictions & Full Card Breakdown (UFC Vegas 74) · May 30, 2023 · 2 reads since
strikingdecent grapplinggood wrestlingdecent

He states directly that he is picking Caceres to win, following real technical reasoning (accuracy, timing, cardio edge). He also discloses being a fan of the fighter, which per rule is disclosure, not a hedge, and does not demote the grade.

Pineda is read as a fast-starting, finish-seeking fighter who comes out at full output looking for the finish on the feet or on the mat, where his submission game is very good. His conditioning is explicitly expected to drop off in the later rounds, which the analyst frames as the deciding disadvantage against a better-conditioned opponent.

StrengthFast starter, comes out at full output
StrengthVery good submission game once the fight is on the mat
StrengthLooked renewed in his most recent fight
WeaknessCardio fades as the fight goes on (round-bounded; no clean tag for this, recorded as prose)
pace · fast startersub threat · goodcompetition quality · tested
vs Tucker Lutz clear UFC Fight Night Vera vs Sandhagen Predictions And Full Card Breakdown UFC Fight Night San Antonio · March 21, 2023 · 3 reads since
strikingdecent grapplinggood wrestlingdecent

He gives Lutz the striking edge and -- if the fight goes past round one -- the grappling edge too, on the stated grounds that Pineda's cardio gives out; this technical read is given plainly with no hedge on the win itself (only a round-based qualifier on when the edge applies, which per the confidence-bar rule does not demote).

A fast-starting, 'kill or be killed' style fighter with decent striking and wrestling and, in the analyst's words, good grappling with a slick submission game -- the best part of his overall game. His cardio is called terrible, which the analyst ties directly to Pineda fading as the fight goes on.

Strengthfast starter
Strengthgood grappling, slick submission game
Weaknessterrible cardio
pace · fast starter

Striking trend

Sig. strikes/min, last 8 fights · green = win
March 15, 2014 vs Robert Whiteford — 1.6/min (L) Mar '14 August 15, 2020 vs Herbert Burns — 5.93/min (W) Aug '20 December 12, 2020 vs Cub Swanson — 3.06/min (L) Dec '20 June 26, 2021 vs Andre Fili — 2.6/min (NC) Jun '21 March 25, 2023 vs Tucker Lutz — 3.06/min (W) Mar '23 June 3, 2023 vs Alex Caceres — 1.8/min (L) Jun '23 July 27, 2024 vs Nathaniel Wood — 2.13/min (L) Jul '24 October 19, 2024 vs Darren Elkins — 2.07/min (L) Oct '24

Fight history

14 UFC bouts · newest first · opponent records as of fight night
L Darren Elkins 28-11 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira · October 19, 2024
31/53Sig. strikes
39/88Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
3:02Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
L Nathaniel Wood 19-6 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 · July 27, 2024
32/69Sig. strikes
66/93Absorbed
1/6Takedowns
5:32Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Alex Caceres 20-13 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Kara-France vs. Albazi · June 3, 2023
27/56Sig. strikes
60/99Absorbed
3/11Takedowns
3:57Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Tucker Lutz 1-1 walk-in Submission · R2 2:50 — UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Sandhagen · March 25, 2023
24/45Sig. strikes
28/78Absorbed
1/2Takedowns
2:20Control
1Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
NC Andre Fili 21-8 walk-in Could Not Continue · R2 0:46 — UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov · June 26, 2021
15/34Sig. strikes
34/67Absorbed
0/7Takedowns
1:38Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Cub Swanson 26-11 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 1:52 — UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno · December 12, 2020
21/45Sig. strikes
46/66Absorbed
1/2Takedowns
0:35Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Herbert Burns 11-2 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 4:37 — UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 · August 15, 2020
57/75Sig. strikes
10/22Absorbed
1/2Takedowns
6:13Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Robert Whiteford 10-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 171: Hendricks vs Lawler · March 15, 2014
24/44Sig. strikes
26/50Absorbed
1/5Takedowns
1:10Control
0Knockdowns
3Sub attempts
L Diego Brandao 16-8 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs Sonnen · August 17, 2013
61/160Sig. strikes
42/86Absorbed
0/8Takedowns
2:48Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Justin Lawrence 4-1 walk-in Submission · R1 1:35 — The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen Finale · April 13, 2013
1/2Sig. strikes
0/2Absorbed
2/3Takedowns
1:18Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Antonio Carvalho 13-5 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 1:11 — UFC 149: Faber vs Barao · July 21, 2012
7/20Sig. strikes
10/23Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Mike Brown 25-8 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 146: Dos Santos vs Mir · May 26, 2012
28/80Sig. strikes
38/67Absorbed
1/3Takedowns
3:07Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Mackens Semerzier 6-3 walk-in Submission · R1 2:05 — UFC on FX: Alves vs Kampmann · March 2, 2012
14/21Sig. strikes
9/12Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:19Control
1Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
W Pat Schilling 0-0 walk-in Submission · R1 1:37 — UFC on FX: Guillard vs Miller · January 20, 2012
19/24Sig. strikes
4/7Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
0:45Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts

Walk-in records count UFC bouts in this database. For the pre-UFC career, see the record breakdown below or the Tapology button up top.

Record breakdown

Full pro career (Wikipedia, results only)
28-17-0 (2 NC)Pro record
4oz Fight ClubGym / team

Wins by method

KO/TKO 9
Submission 19
Decision 0
Other 0

Losses by method

KO/TKO 3
Submission 6
Decision 8
Other 0

No contests: 2

Fights by organization

UFC 14
Legacy FC 8
Bellator 5
SWC 4
Fury FC 3
Katana Cagefighting 2
PFL 1
LFA 1

+ 9 more organizations in the full career list

Full career — 47 fights, every organization
OpponentMethodEventOrg RdTime
L Darren Elkins Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira
October 19, 2024
UFC 3 5:00
L Nathaniel Wood Decision (unanimous) UFC 304
July 27, 2024
UFC 3 5:00
L Alex Caceres Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi
June 3, 2023
UFC 3 5:00
W Tucker Lutz Submission (guillotine choke) UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen
March 25, 2023
UFC 2 2:50
NC Andre Fili NC (accidental eye poke) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov
June 26, 2021
UFC 2 0:46
L Cub Swanson KO (punches) UFC 256
December 12, 2020
UFC 2 1:52
W Herbert Burns TKO (elbows) UFC 252
August 15, 2020
UFC 2 4:37
NC Jeremy Kennedy NC (overturned) PFL 8 (2019)
October 17, 2019
PFL 1 4:00
W Rey Trujillo TKO (punches) Fury FC 32
May 24, 2019
Fury FC 1 3:32
W Elias Rodriguez Submission (guillotine choke) Fury FC 28
December 15, 2018
Fury FC 1 0:51
W Dimitre Ivy Submission (triangle choke) Fury FC 25
July 20, 2018
Fury FC 1 1:10
W Josh Davila TKO (punches) LFA 35
March 9, 2018
LFA 2 0:58
L Georgi Karakhanyan TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 182
August 25, 2017
Bellator 2 4:05
W Mark Dickman Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 161
September 16, 2016
Bellator 3 2:07
L Emmanuel Sanchez Decision (split) Bellator 149
February 19, 2016
Bellator 3 5:00
W Jonny Carson Submission (kimura) Legacy FC 41
April 3, 2015
Legacy FC 3 1:45
W Thomas Webb Submission (triangle choke) Legacy FC 39
February 27, 2015
Legacy FC 1 0:49
W Leonard Garcia Submission (kimura) Legacy FC 37
November 14, 2014
Legacy FC 1 1:54
L Robert Whiteford Decision (unanimous) UFC 171
March 15, 2014
UFC 3 5:00
L Diego Brandão Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen
August 17, 2013
UFC 3 5:00
W Justin Lawrence Submission (kimura) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen Finale
April 13, 2013
UFC 1 1:35
L Antonio Carvalho KO (punches) UFC 149
July 21, 2012
UFC 1 1:11
L Mike Brown Decision (unanimous) UFC 146
May 26, 2012
UFC 3 5:00
W Mackens Semerzier Submission (triangle-armbar) UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann
March 3, 2012
UFC 1 2:05
W Pat Schilling Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller
January 20, 2012
UFC 1 1:37
W Gilbert Jimenez TKO (spinning backfist) Legacy FC 9
December 16, 2011
Legacy FC 2 1:37
W Frank Gomez Submission (rear-naked choke) Legacy FC 7
July 22, 2011
Legacy FC 3 2:25
W Ray Blodgett KO (punch) Legacy FC 6
April 9, 2011
Legacy FC 1 0:58
W Levi Forrest Submission (heel hook) Legacy FC 5
January 29, 2011
Legacy FC 1 2:49
W Reynaldo Trujillo Submission (rear-naked choke) Legacy Promotions
July 31, 2010
Legacy Promotions 1 1:58
L Chas Skelly Submission (kneebar) Bellator 19
May 20, 2010
Bellator 2 2:16
W James King TKO (punches) KOK 8: The Uprising
February 27, 2010
KOK 1 4:30
W Douglas Frey Submission (heel hook) SWC 9: Redemption
November 28, 2009
SWC 2 1:55
L Chas Skelly Submission SWC 8: Night of Rumble
September 18, 2009
SWC 1 2:12
L Johnny Bedford Submission (triangle choke) SWC 7: Discountenance
June 20, 2009
SWC 2 2:58
L Kyle Miers Submission (rear-naked choke) International Xtreme Fight Association
June 6, 2009
International Xtreme Fight Association 1 1:24
L Roberto Vargas Decision (unanimous) Bellator 6
May 8, 2009
Bellator 3 5:00
W Johnny Bedford Submission (kneebar) SWC 3: St. Valentine's Day Massacre
February 21, 2009
SWC 1 2:00
W Ira Evanson Submission (armbar) Katana Cagefighting
December 6, 2008
Katana Cagefighting 2 1:22
L Scott Bear Submission (choke) Legacy FC 2
August 23, 2008
Legacy FC 2 —
W Vince Libardi TKO (punches) South Coast Promotions
July 18, 2008
South Coast Promotions 1 1:13
W John Alvarez TKO (punches) Katana Cagefighting
May 17, 2008
Katana Cagefighting 2 2:04
W Warren Stewart TKO (punches) Urban Rumble Championships 1
April 4, 2008
Urban Rumble Championships 1 1:42
L Lim Jae-suk Submission (rear-naked choke) EliteXC: Renegade
November 10, 2007
EliteXC 1 2:42
W Kierre Gooch Submission (choke) Renegades Extreme Fighting
October 20, 2007
Renegades Extreme Fighting 2 0:59
W Warren Stewart Submission (rear-naked choke) Art of War 2
May 11, 2007
Art of War 1 2:00
W Jeremy Mahon Submission (rear-naked choke) IFC: Caged Combat
April 13, 2007
IFC 1 1:03

Career history from the fighter's Wikipedia record table (Daniel Pineda (fighter)) — results only, no strike stats; UFC bouts are marked and carry full stats in the fight history above.

Division context

vs. 134 qualified Featherweight fighters · tick = division mean
Striking volume /min 2.9 avg 3.6
Strikes absorbed /min 3.3 avg 3.6
Striking accuracy 49.6% avg 45.0%
Striking defense 45.8% avg 55.3%
Takedowns /15 min 1.4 avg 1.5
Takedown accuracy 24.0% avg 37.4%
Takedown defense 54.7% avg 60.2%
Sub attempts /15 min 1.5 avg 0.6
Control time 25.9% avg 20.1%
Finish rate 100.0% avg 44.2%