In an unexpected turn of events, one of the semifinalists on Friday’s opening fight card of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) playoffs in San Antonio, Texas, missed weight during the weigh-ins. This could potentially lead to a bizarre circumstance in the final round, where the fighter who lost on the official scorecards may still advance. Let’s delve into the details and implications of this weight miss.
Featherweight fighter Jesus Pinedo stepped on the scale at 146.4 pounds, 0.4 pounds over the limit. His opponent, top seed Bubba Jenkins, weighed in at 145.8 pounds, complying with the weight requirement. As a consequence of the weight miss, Pinedo will have to forfeit 20% of his purse and accrue a one-point deduction from his score if the fight goes the distance. However, it is crucial to note that this penalty will only affect the league’s playoff scenario and not the official scorecards.
This unprecedented scenario poses an intriguing question: if the judges score the three-round bout 29-28 in favor of Pinedo, it would be treated as a draw by the PFL. Despite losing on the official scorecards, Jenkins would still advance to the final. The PFL confirmed that following a draw, the first tiebreaker would be the fighter’s ability to make weight.
Fortunately, the other featherweight semifinalists, Gabriel Braga (145.8) and Chris Wade (146), made weight successfully, ensuring a fair competition between them. The four light heavyweights on the card, Josh Silveira (204), Ty Flores (205), Marthin Hamlet (206), and Impa Kasanganay (203.8), also complied with the weight limit.
The main card of the PFL playoffs will take place at the Boeing Center at Tech Point in San Antonio, Texas. The event, scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET, will be televised on ESPN and ESPN+. Viewers can catch the prelims on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The weight miss by Jesus Pinedo at the PFL playoffs has set the stage for a potentially unusual final scenario. The repercussions of this mishap mean that the fighter who loses on the scorecards can still advance if their opponent failed to make weight. With such an unexpected turn of events, fight fans eagerly anticipate the final showdown and the resolution of this bizarre situation.
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