Proven Commodity

A stellar 19-2 record serves as a testament to the hard work Adam Borics undertook to establish himself as one of the premier mixed martial artists outside the auspices of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The 31-year-old Hungarian was one of eight featherweights selected by the Professional Fighters League to participate in the 2025 PFL World Tournament, which sees him pitted against Jesus Pinedo in a quarterfinal pairing on April 3 at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Jeremy Kennedy, Movlid Khaybulaev, Gabriel Braga, Yves Landu, Nathan Kelly and Tae Kyun Kim complete the field at 145 pounds.

Having faced a veritable murderer’s row during his time with Bellator MMA, Borics welcomes the latest challenge with which he has been presented. However, he has not suited up since he made his PFL debut 11-plus months ago and posted a unanimous decision over “The Ultimate Fighter Latin America” Season 2 winner Enrique Barzola.

“The time away has been frustrating,” Borics told Sherdog.com. “I won my first fight and I was excited, but then things happened [that were] out of my control. I was getting ready for my second fight, and I got hurt. Then after I got healthy, I waited for a couple of months. I was preparing to get a fight by the end of the year, but I didn’t get the fight. This life of a fighter is not an easy life.”

It proved to be a difficult test for Borics.

“It was a lot of stress,” he said. “I cannot say anything else about it. I knew I had a contract for the 2025 season, but I wanted to fight one more time before the end of the year. I was in an internal battle of wondering if I could go back home to Hungary or stay in Florida and train, so I kept training. Like I said, it’s not an easy life.”

As the PFL continues its global expansion, fighters like Borics grow in importance. Representing his homeland remains a top priority for the Kill Cliff Fight Club standout.

“I love my country,” Borics said. “I love fighting for my country and representing them every time I’m out competing. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Hungary. I’m a real Hungarian. Of course, I represent my team in Florida, but more than anything, I represent my home.”

Tournaments are not foreign to Borics, as he competed in the Bellator world grand prix in 2019. He believes the PFL’s decision to change formats should prove beneficial moving forward.

“I think it’ll be the best thing for the promotion and for the fans,” Borics said. “As a fighter, you can get injured, and even if you win and you’re injured, it’s not easy. For me, it’s the same mindset. I focus on every fight like it’s a world championship fight. It’s just step by step for me, and I keep the attitude of win-or-go-home in each fight I have.”

In Pinedo, Borics faces a formidable first-round foe. The 28-year-old Peruvian was a million-dollar PFL champion in 2023 and enters their showdown on the strength of a three-fight winning streak.

“He’s a tough dude—a world champion—but I think I’ve already faced a higher level of competition than him,” Borics said. “This is just another step for me. I think it’s going to be ‘Fight of the Night,’ for sure, and fans will see me at my best, at my strongest.”