By TXMMA Staff // Emil Fischer
Former two-division returns home to Legacy FC; takes on Leonard Garcia at LFC 37
HOUSTON, TX – On November 14th, two exciting Texan featherweights will face off at Legacy FC 37. Both Leonard Garcia and Daniel Pineda have 18 wins on their records, with 11 losses, the younger Pineda has one less loss than Garcia. Both fighters are finishers, with a propensity for submission wins and the ability to knock out their opponents. They are also both coming off of losses, and have been cut from the UFC, thus giving them something to prove. Given their competitive history, fans should expect no less than an explosive and entertaining battle between these two awesome fighters in the LFC 37 main event.
TXMMA had an opportunity to speak with Daniel Pineda about the upcoming fight.
First a bit of history on the submission artist: “I was born in Dallas grew up in Waller TX. I’m a Dallas Cowboys fan but I still root for my Texans. I wrestled I high school and started training MMA when I was 22. I train at 4oz fight club. I feel I’m a well-rounded fighter but wresting and jiu-jitsu are my specialties. I’ve been training for 7 years. I’ve never lost at home in Houston and I don’t plan on losing here. I have a lot of fans and family here and I fight at my best in front of them.”
Unlike many grappling specialists, Daniel Pineda doesn’t use the gi (traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training uniform) when preparing for fights. “I enjoy training in the gi but I don’t put it on when I’m getting ready for a fight.”
The “hometown advantage” can often be a big one for fighters, as they have all their friends and family there to back them up and egg them on, but Pineda knows that he’ll need more than that to win “I’ve been training in all aspects of MMA. I’m always working to improve everywhere.” Good training partners are also very important “Jesus River is always my hardest rounds, he might be old but he’s still a beast.”
Given that Leonard Garcia has been fighting since 1999, 8 years longer than Pineda, he will enjoy an experiential advantage, being substantially more seasoned. However, Pineda is experienced himself, and as the younger fighter, he has his own plans for November 14th. “He’s been around the game for a long time. I know what he plans on doing and he knows what I plan only doing. Now it comes down to him trying to stop my game plan… Everyone will see it on the 14th.”
“Thanks to JnL, Los Cuco, My Fight Shop, 4oz fight club, ATS Labs, St. Michael’s emergency and any future sponsors that would like to sponsor me. Come watch my fight November 14 at the Houston arena theater or watch on AXS TV.”