The first bout announced for UFC 329 on July 11 features Damian Pinas facing Cesar Almeida in the middleweight division. Pinas holds a 1-0 UFC record after debuting in February, while Almeida stands at 3-2 in the promotion. The 24-year-old Pinas has finished all his victories and suffered only one loss by disqualification for an illegal strike. UFC 329 will take place during International Fight Week. The bout was first reported by Marcel Dorff.
A middleweight clash between Damian Pinas and Cesar Almeida has been set for UFC 329 on July 11, marking the first fight announced for the event, which takes place during International Fight Week. The booking was first reported by Marcel Dorff.
Pinas, nicknamed "The Babayaga," enters the fight at 24 years old with a professional record of 9-1-0. The orthodox striker stands six-foot-one with an exceptional 79-inch reach and has shown serious finishing ability throughout his career, having completed all of his victories by stoppage. His only blemish is a loss by disqualification for an illegal strike. In his UFC debut in February, Pinas went 1-0 in the promotion, and his output numbers are eye-catching — he lands 7.5 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate.
Almeida, a 38-year-old Brazilian known as "Cesinha" and training out of Lotus MMA, brings a 7-2-0 professional record and a 3-2 mark inside the octagon. The six-foot-one orthodox fighter carries a 74-inch reach and has posted a striking accuracy of 58 percent with 3.46 significant strikes landed per minute in UFC competition. He also adds a submission threat to his game, averaging 0.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Pinas brings one of the division's highest striking output rates, setting up a potentially explosive stand-up contest against a seasoned finisher in Almeida.
- At 38, Almeida faces a significant age gap against the emerging 24-year-old Pinas, adding urgency to his UFC positioning.
- A win for either fighter would strengthen their case for a middleweight ranking and greater organizational attention heading into the second half of 2026.
