Damian Pinas vs Cesar Almeida announced for UFC 329 on July 11

The UFC has officially announced a middleweight matchup between Damian Pinas and Cesar Almeida as the first confirmed bout for UFC 329, set to take place on July 11 during International Fight Week. The announcement was originally reported by Marcel Dorff.

Pinas, nicknamed "The Babayaga," enters the fight at just 24 years old and carries a professional record of 9-1-0. The orthodox striker stands six-foot-one with an exceptional 79-inch reach and lands an eye-catching 7.5 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy. He went 1-0 in his UFC debut in February, and his only career loss came via disqualification for an illegal strike. Every other blemish-free victory on his record has come by way of finish.

Almeida, known as "Cesinha," is a 38-year-old Brazilian fighter out of Lotus MMA. He holds a professional record of 7-2-0 and brings five UFC appearances worth of octagon experience into this contest. The six-foot-one orthodox middleweight carries a 74-inch reach and lands 3.46 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy. His grappling numbers are modest, though he does average 0.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Pinas is one of the more physically imposing young prospects in the division, boasting a reach advantage of five inches over Almeida and a significantly higher striking output.
• Almeida's superior octagon experience and striking accuracy could offset the raw aggression of the younger fighter.
• A win for either man would strengthen a middleweight divisional depth that continues to grow competitive beneath the title picture.
• The bout serves as an early anchor for UFC 329, with more additions to the card expected ahead of International Fight Week.