Daniel Pineda

Daniel Pineda (born August 6, 1985) is an American former mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional from 2007 to 2024, he also competed for the Professional Fighters League, Bellator, and EliteXC.

Background Born in Dallas and raised in Waller, Texas, Pineda wrestled in high school for three years before he began training in mixed martial arts at 21.

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.

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 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 the fight via doctor stoppage in the second round due to a cut.

Professional Fighters League Pineda joined Professional Fighters League (PFL) in 2019 and fought Movlid Khaybulaev and Jeremy Kennedy at PFL. He won both of the bouts on the same night; however it was ruled no contest after Pineda failed a drug test and was subsequently suspended and fined $12,500 by NAC.

Return to the UFC Pineda re-signed with UFC in June 2020. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Pineda faced Cub Swanson on December 12, 2020, at UFC 256. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.

Pineda faced Andre Fili on June 26, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 190. Early in round two, Pineda was accidentally poked in the eye and was deemed unable to continue. The fight was declared a no contest.

A urine sample Pineda produced on fight night tested positive for amphetamine, a banned substance under the NAC rules. As a result, Pineda was handed a nine-month suspension in September 2021, retroactive to the positive test. He was also fined a total of $2,554.38, accounting for the violation and subsequent legal fees.

Pineda was scheduled to face Jamall Emmers on May 14, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 36. However, the bout was scrapped in late April for unknown reasons.

Pineda faced Tucker Lutz on March 25, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 43. He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Pineda faced Alex Caceres on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. The win earned Pineda his first Fight of the Night bonus award.

Pineda was scheduled to face Khusein Askhabov on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. However on September 11, Askhabov has been arrested after being connected to the kidnap and torture in Thailand and the bout was cancelled.

Pineda faced Nathaniel Wood on July 27, 2024, at UFC 304. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Pineda faced Darren Elkins on October 19, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 245. He lost the fight by unanimous decision and retired from mixed martial arts competition after the bout. This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.

Personal life Pineda and his wife have a daughter born in 2020.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Submission of the Night (One time) vs. Justin Lawrence UFC.com Awards 2020: Ranked #9 Upset of the Year 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) Katana Cagefighting KC Featherweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Darren Elkins Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Pereira

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Nathaniel Wood Decision (unanimous) UFC 304

Manchester, England Loss

Alex Caceres Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Tucker Lutz Submission (guillotine choke) UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen

San Antonio, Texas, United States NC

Andre Fili NC (accidental eye poke) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Cub Swanson KO (punches) UFC 256

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Herbert Burns TKO (elbows) UFC 252

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States NC

Jeremy Kennedy

NC

Movlid Khaybulaev

Win

Rey Trujillo TKO (punches) Fury FC 32

Humble, Texas, United States Win

Elias Rodriguez Submission (guillotine choke) Fury FC 28

Humble, Texas, United States Win

Dimitre Ivy Submission (triangle choke) Fury FC 25

Humble, Texas, United States Win

Josh Davila TKO (punches) LFA 35

Houston, Texas, United States Loss

Georgi Karakhanyan TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 182

Verona, New York, United States Win

Mark Dickman Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 161

Cedar Park, Texas, United States Loss

Emmanuel Sanchez Decision (split) Bellator 149

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Jonny Carson Submission (kimura) Legacy FC 41

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States Win

Thomas Webb Submission (triangle choke) Legacy FC 39

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Leonard Garcia Submission (kimura) Legacy FC 37

Houston, Texas, United States Loss

Robert Whiteford Decision (unanimous) UFC 171

Dallas, Texas, United States Loss

Diego Brandão Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Win

Justin Lawrence Submission (kimura) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Antonio Carvalho KO (punches) UFC 149

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Loss

Mike Brown Decision (unanimous) UFC 146

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mackens Semerzier Submission (triangle-armbar) UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann

Sydney, Australia Win

Pat Schilling Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Win

Gilbert Jimenez TKO (spinning backfist) Legacy FC 9

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Frank Gomez Submission (rear-naked choke) Legacy FC 7

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Ray Blodgett KO (punch) Legacy FC 6

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Levi Forrest Submission (heel hook) Legacy FC 5

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Reynaldo Trujillo Submission (rear-naked choke) Legacy Promotions

Houston, Texas, United States Loss

Chas Skelly Submission (kneebar) Bellator 19

Grand Prairie, Texas, United States Win

James King TKO (punches) KOK 8: The Uprising

Austin, Texas, United States Win

Douglas Frey Submission (heel hook) SWC 9: Redemption

Frisco, Texas, United States Loss

Chas Skelly Submission SWC 8: Night of Rumble

Frisco, Texas, United States Loss

Johnny Bedford Submission (triangle choke) SWC 7: Discountenance

Frisco, Texas, United States Loss

Kyle Miers Submission (rear-naked choke) International Xtreme Fight Association

Vinton, Louisiana, United States Loss

Roberto Vargas Decision (unanimous) Bellator 6

Robstown, Texas, United States Win

Johnny Bedford Submission (kneebar) SWC 3: St. Valentine's Day Massacre

Frisco, Texas, United States Win

Ira Evanson Submission (armbar) Katana Cagefighting

Robstown, Texas, United States Loss

Scott Bear Submission (choke) Legacy FC 2

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Win

Vince Libardi TKO (punches) South Coast Promotions

Houston, Texas, United States Win

John Alvarez TKO (punches) Katana Cagefighting

Robstown, Texas, United States Win

Warren Stewart TKO (punches) Urban Rumble Championships 1

Pasadena, Texas, United States Loss

Lim Jae-suk Submission (rear-naked choke) EliteXC: Renegade

Corpus Christi, Texas, United States Win

Kierre Gooch Submission (choke) Renegades Extreme Fighting

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Warren Stewart Submission (rear-naked choke) Art of War 2

Austin, Texas, United States Win

Jeremy Mahon Submission (rear-naked choke) IFC: Caged Combat

Corpus Christi, Texas, United States