Damian Pinas will face Cesar Almeida in a middleweight bout at UFC 329 on July 11 during International Fight Week. Pinas is 1-0 in the UFC after making his debut in February at age 24. All of his wins have come by finish, with his only career loss being a disqualification for an illegal strike. Almeida enters the bout with a 3-2 UFC record. This is the first fight announced for the UFC 329 card. The information was reported by Marcel Dorff.
A middleweight matchup between Damian "The Babayaga" Pinas and Cesar "Cesinha" Almeida has been booked for UFC 329 on July 11, becoming the first fight officially announced for the International Fight Week card. The booking was reported by Marcel Dorff.
Pinas, 24, carries a 9-1-0 record into the bout and is 1-0 inside the octagon following his UFC debut in February. The six-foot-one orthodox striker out of the middleweight division has finished every opponent he has defeated, and his lone career loss came by disqualification for an illegal strike. His output is striking: he lands 7.5 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy, and he owns a 79-inch reach that gives him a notable length advantage.
Almeida, a 38-year-old Brazilian representing Lotus MMA, brings a 7-2-0 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the UFC. Also standing six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach, "Cesinha" is an orthodox fighter who lands 3.46 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy. His UFC record reflects both the promise and the adversity of a competitor navigating the organization's deep middleweight roster.
Why it matters
- Pinas enters as one of the more explosive young strikers in the division, averaging more than seven significant strikes per minute.
- Almeida's superior accuracy and UFC experience make him a meaningful early test for a prospect still building his octagon resume.
- The outcome will shape the trajectory of both fighters in a middleweight division with plenty of movement in its rankings.
- This is the first confirmed bout for UFC 329, making it a card to watch as International Fight Week approaches.
