Daniel “Pit” Pineda on Training for his Legacy Lightweight Title Shot Against Ray Blodget!

April 1, 2011 – The main event at the Legacy Fighting Championship on April 9th will be the most pivotal fight of 26-year-old Daniel Pineda’s career as he takes on Ray Blodget for the Lightweight title and continue his ascent in Professional MMA.

Already owning consecutive victories over former Levi Forrest, former welterweight champion, and Rey Trujillo, who he beat for the bantamweight title which now hangs at the IV Ounce Fight Club, Pineda is focused on completing the trilogy and cementing his name amongst the very best that have fought for the promotion.

In fact, he even quit his full-time little over one month ago to focus exclusively on his training camp for this fight, oftentimes training twice-a-day.

Knowing full well that his upcoming opponent has been training both at Elite MMA and across state lines with Wild Card Boxing in California, Daniel seems undeterred and ready for this title fight with just exactly one week and one day until they hit the cage on fight night.

“I feel good, you know. I think I’m ready for the shot!” Daniel says. “I’ve had a great feeling in camp because now I train with guys like Adam Schindler and I’ve always needed a wrestler out there and I’ve always had all the stand-up I’ll need. Steve, Jesus, Bob… everybody. Now that we’ve got Lee Higgins and Adam Schindler and Chris, it’s awesome. I’ve got standup, wrestling, everything”

Above and beyond his training with the well-respected IV Ounce team, Daniel has also expanded his training to include another top coach as well to expand his jiu-jitsu game.

Stating that former BJJ instructor Renan Chavez has exclusively been teaching at his home at Paradigm Training Center as of late, Pineda has sought out none other than Jorge “Macaco” Patino of Gold Team to help him prepare for this upcoming title fight and beyond. “They says one of the best,” says Daniel. “It’s funny because whenever I’ve trained with black belts (in the past) it’s like we go at it but with Macaco, when he lays on me I feel like he’s three hundred pounds. He’s so big and heavy and strong it’s hilarious.”

With all this training and a buildup in confidence brought on by his recent performance, Daniel has high aspirations for the rest of his career but is not looking past the current champion.

“Man I think, you know, he’s got the belt and he got it in a war and I think he’s a good champion. But you know, I fought two big names before and I beat them both in the first round so I think I deserve a shot. I think that belt will look better on me.”

When asked what he thought of Blodget training in California prior to this fight, Daniel said, “I’m guessing he’s planning to stand up, you know, but I’m ready for whatever he has. Whatever it may be, standup, ground, I’m ready. I showed it with the last fight (Levi Forrest), I’m not scared to stand up. I stood up with the biggest guy I’ve faced out there.”

Regarding where he thinks this fight will take place, Pineda said, “I think we’re going to stand up because he’s not going to try to go the ground, I don’t think, but you don’t want to focus on just one thing. It’s going to a good fight. Like I said, I know he went out there to work on his stand up so I’m guessing he wants to stand up but I think wherever I want it, I could take it but you know what, I’m gonna stand up and we’ll go from there. Wherever I want it, its gonna go, ground or up top.”

According to “the Pit,” this fight has the potential to be ‘fight of the night’ due to the fact that Ray Blodget has had numerous fight of the night performances before and he’s no slouch for putting on exciting fights himself, albeit fast ones.

Provided he wins, Daniel Pineda has big plans for the future.

“I’ve got one more fight with Legacy so hopefully I’ll be defending my 145 belt at the next show hopefully having both belts on me. I guess whoever they think is ready for a title shot, that’ll be next.”

Then after that, it’s the UFC or bust if they’ll have him at bantamweight or maybe even featherweight.

“ I’m walking around at 158 so I think I can make 35 with the right diet. I never diet and junk food, pizza, that’s my favorite food so I’m always eating bad. So a little more discipline and I can get there.”

Before he gets there though, he has to get past Ray Blodget and to that regard, Pineda wants to leave this message for the Legacy fight fans out there.

“Man, don’t miss this fight. It’s going to be a war. I don’t anything away from him (Ray Blodget). I think he’s good, he’s undefeated for a reason, so you guys need to come and buy your tickets now because this is going to be a war.”

Acknowledgements

Daniel Pineda would like to thank 713 Tattoo, Gold Team and Jorge “Macaco” Patino, all his 4OZ Fight Club trainers and sparring partners, Clean Fightwear, Los Cucos, and Rockstar Designs.

In-Depth Coverage of April 9th’s Legacy Fighting Championship

• Daniel “Pit” Pineda on Training for his Legacy Lightweight Title Shot Against Ray Blodget!  – here
  
• Team Tooke’s Andrew Craig on Beating Jon Kirk and His Upcoming Legacy Title Shot Against Bubba Bush! – here
  
• TXMMA.com Exclusive with Legacy Lightweight Champion Ray Blodget; Taking on Daniel Pineda on April 9th! – here
  
• Looking to “Whoop” Up on Someone – “Fighting Aggie” Bubba Bush set to take onAndrew Craig for the Legacy 185 Title! – here
  
• Stepping Back into the Cage with Alex Black; Ready to Do Battle Once MoreAgainst Tim Snyder at Legacy! – here
  
• The Next Big Thing? Time to Grow Up as Alex Morono Faces Jeff Rexroad at Legacy FC on April 9th! – here
  
• TLegacy FC Announced April 9th Bout Additions – “The Chosen One” Returns; Andrew Craig Arrivesto Take On Bubba Bush – here
  
• Initial Legacy Card Announcement and Fight Opinions from Houston MMA Personalities –here
  
• Interview with Jeff Rexroad, Main Event Preview of ‘Blodget versus Pineda,’ and much more by TXMMAWriter Mike Calimbas in the 2nd issue of Legacy Magazine – here
  
• Much more to come here on TXMMA.com!