The UFC has announced the first bout for UFC 329, scheduled for July 11 during International Fight Week. Damian Pinas will face Cesar Almeida in a middleweight contest. Pinas is 1-0 in the UFC after debuting in February and is 24 years old with all his victories coming by finish and only one loss by disqualification for an illegal strike. Almeida enters with a 3-2 UFC record. The announcement was sourced from Marcel Dorff. This represents an early matchup on what will be a major card during the promotion's flagship week in Las Vegas.
The UFC has officially announced a middleweight contest between Damian Pinas and Cesar Almeida for UFC 329, set for July 11 during International Fight Week in Las Vegas. The pairing marks the first confirmed bout for what is expected to be one of the promotion's marquee events of the year.
Pinas, known as "The Babayaga," carries a 9-1-0 overall record into the fight, with his sole loss coming by disqualification for an illegal strike. The 24-year-old stands six-foot-one with a 79-inch reach — one of the longer wingspans in the division — and has finished every opponent he has defeated. His UFC debut came in February, making him 1-0 inside the octagon. He lands an impressive 7.5 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate, signaling an aggressive, high-output style.
Almeida, the Brazilian veteran nicknamed "Cesinha," brings a 7-2-0 overall record and a 3-2 mark inside the UFC. He trains out of Lotus MMA and fights out of an orthodox stance at six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach. At 38 years old, he brings considerable experience to the matchup. Almeida lands 3.46 significant strikes per minute at an efficient 58 percent accuracy, suggesting a more measured, precise approach on the feet.
Why it matters
- Pinas enters as one of the more hyped young middleweights on the roster, and a win over a UFC-tested opponent would accelerate his trajectory significantly.
- Almeida's experience and striking efficiency make him a legitimate measuring stick for an unproven prospect.
- The reach advantage of Pinas — five inches longer than Almeida — sets up an intriguing distance management battle between two orthodox strikers.
- UFC 329 falls during International Fight Week, meaning heightened visibility for any fighter who performs well on the card.
