Damian Pinas vs Cesar Almeida set for UFC 329 middleweight bout on July 11

A middleweight clash between Damian Pinas and Cesar Almeida has been announced as the first confirmed bout for UFC 329, slated for July 11 during International Fight Week.

Pinas, nicknamed "The Babayaga," enters the fight as one of the more intriguing young prospects in the division. The 24-year-old from Aruba carries a 9-1-0 professional record, with his sole loss coming by disqualification for an illegal strike — meaning he has never been stopped. Standing six-foot-one with an exceptional 79-inch reach, Pinas is a volume striker who lands 7.5 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy. He holds a 1-0 UFC record after debuting in February, and all of his career victories have come by stoppage.

Almeida, known as "Cesinha," brings considerably more Octagon experience to the matchup. The 38-year-old Brazilian out of Lotus MMA holds a 7-2-0 professional record and has gone 3-2 inside the UFC. At six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach, Almeida is the shorter-armed fighter by a notable margin. He lands 3.46 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy, suggesting a more selective and precise striking approach compared to his opponent's high-output style.

Why it matters

• Pinas is considered a rising prospect, and a win over the experienced Almeida would validate his early UFC trajectory
• The five-inch reach disadvantage for Almeida could be a defining factor given Pinas's heavy striking output
• At 38, Almeida faces a fighter 14 years his junior who brings finishing power in every win on his record
• A strong performance from either fighter in a high-profile International Fight Week event could push them toward ranked middleweight territory