Daniel Pineda may or may not be competing in the featherweight finals for the PFL on Dec. 31.
Weeks after it was first reported that Pineda had a drug test flagged by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the PFL has announced that they have designated alternates eligible to serve as replacements in case any of the finalists are unable to compete.
According to the PFL, Pineda will go before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Dec. 18 to appeal an “irregular test result” from his playoff fights in October.
“The PFL believes all athletes deserve due process and will, within reason, provide the fighters who earned their way into the finals every opportunity to compete on New Year’s Eve,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a statement on Wednesday. “The League, as always, will abide by the final ruling of the commission.”
If Pineda faces a sanction for the irregular drug test result, Alex Gilpin would then return for the finals to face Palmer for the third time this season. Palmer has defeated Gilpin by unanimous decision in their two previous meetings.
Welterweight alternate Glaico Franco also has a hearing with the Nevada Commission on the same day for a separate failed drug test. If he’s unable to serve as the alternate, Chris Curtis would then be on standby for the welterweight finals between David Michaud and Ray Cooper.
Here is the full list of alternates for the PFL Finals on Dec. 31 from New York:
Featherweight — Alex Gilpin
Women’s Lightweight — Sarah Kaufman
Lightweight — Chris Wade
Welterweight — Glaico Franca (Second alternate is Chris Curtis)
