The first fight announced for UFC 329, scheduled for July 11 during international fight week, features middleweights Damian Pinas (1-0 UFC) against Cesar Almeida (3-2 UFC). Pinas made his UFC debut in February at age 24, with all his victories coming by finish except for one loss by disqualification due to an illegal strike. Almeida enters the bout with a 3-2 record in the promotion. The announcement was reported by Marcel Dorff.
A middleweight matchup between Damian Pinas and Cesar Almeida has been booked as the first confirmed fight for UFC 329, set for July 11 during International Fight Week, according to a report from Marcel Dorff.
Pinas, known as "The Babayaga," carries a 9-1-0 overall record into the bout and made his UFC debut in February at just 24 years old. The Dutch prospect stands six-foot-one with an exceptional 79-inch reach and has shown serious finishing ability throughout his career. His output inside the octagon has been eye-catching, averaging 7.5 significant strikes landed per minute at 56 percent accuracy. His lone loss came by disqualification following an illegal strike, and every other defeat on his record remains absent — all his setbacks aside from that DQ have been avoided entirely, with all wins coming by finish.
Almeida, the Brazilian veteran nicknamed "Cesinha," is 38 years old and trains out of Lotus MMA. He holds a 7-2-0 professional record and stands six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach. Fighting out of an orthodox stance, he averages 3.46 significant strikes per minute with an impressive 58 percent striking accuracy. He carries a 3-2 mark inside the UFC heading into this contest.
Why it matters
- Pinas enters as one of the more explosive young strikers in the middleweight division, nearly doubling Almeida's output rate in terms of significant strikes per minute
- Almeida's superior accuracy and UFC experience give him a meaningful edge in efficiency despite the volume gap
- Both fighters are coming off mixed UFC runs, making this a pivotal bout for each man's standing in the 185-pound division
- The result could push the winner into ranked contention or, at minimum, onto bigger cards later in 2026
