The first fight announcement for UFC 329 has been made, with Damian Pinas facing Cesar Almeida in a middleweight bout on July 11th during International Fight Week. Pinas (1-0 UFC) made his promotional debut in February at age 24 and has won all his fights by finish, with his only career loss coming via disqualification for an illegal strike. Almeida enters with a 3-2 UFC record. The matchup pairs a promising newcomer against a more experienced UFC veteran. Additional details about the event location were not provided.
A middleweight clash between Damian Pinas and Cesar Almeida has been confirmed as the first announced bout for UFC 329, scheduled for July 11 during International Fight Week.
Pinas, known as "The Babayaga," enters at just 24 years old carrying a 9-1-0 professional record. The six-foot-one Orthodox fighter made his UFC debut in February and went 1-0 in the promotion. His lone career blemish came via disqualification for an illegal strike — every other fight on his record has ended inside the distance. His output inside the Octagon has been eye-catching, averaging 7.5 significant strikes landed per minute with a 56 percent striking accuracy and a 79-inch reach that gives him a notable length advantage.
Almeida, nicknamed "Cesinha," is a 38-year-old Brazilian veteran fighting out of Lotus MMA. He holds a 7-2-0 overall record and has gone 3-2 inside the UFC, giving him considerably more experience at the promotional level. Standing six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach, the Orthodox striker lands 3.46 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy. He also mixes in submission attempts, averaging 0.2 per 15 minutes, though he has not recorded any offensive takedowns in UFC competition.
Why it matters
- Pinas arrives as one of the more explosive newcomers in the middleweight division, and a strong performance against a UFC veteran could accelerate his trajectory significantly.
- Almeida's greater promotional experience and higher striking accuracy make this a genuine test for the undefeated-by-finish newcomer.
- The five-inch reach disparity — 79 inches for Pinas versus 74 for Almeida — could be a defining factor in the stand-up exchanges both fighters are likely to pursue.
- The bout serves as an early anchor for what is typically one of the UFC's most stacked events of the year during International Fight Week.
