Daniel Pineda re-signs with UFC, six years after release
Daniel Pineda is back in the UFC.
Six years after his release, Pineda (26-13 MMA, 3-4 UFC) re-signed with the promotion Tuesday.
An Iridium Sports Agency representative confirmed the signing to MMA Junkie following a social media post. No timetable or opponent for Pineda’s first fight back is known at this time.
Pineda, 34, is coming off a run in PFL which ended in a drug test failure and subsequent suspension. Following an improbable tournament run to secure a slot in the $1 million PFL featherweight finale, Pineda was flagged for having an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio in his system.
In January 2020, Pineda admitted fault. He was handed a six-month suspension and fined $12,500 by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC). Two of his victories, which were earned in the same night, were ruled no contests. He was also removed from his scheduled $1 million fight against Lance Palmer last New Year’s Eve.
In between his UFC and PFL stints, Pineda competed for Legacy FC/LFA, Bellator, and Fury FC. After winning the Legacy FC featherweight title, Pineda had three fights in Bellator, where he went 1-2.
