Damian Pinas vs. Cesar Almeida announced for UFC 329 in July

A middleweight clash between Damian Pinas and Cesar Almeida has been announced as the first confirmed bout for UFC 329, scheduled for July 11 during International Fight Week. The announcement was reported by Marcel Dorff.

Pinas, known as "The Babayaga," is just 24 years old and carries a 9-1-0 professional record into this fight. He made his UFC debut in February and has gone 1-0 inside the organization, with his lone defeat coming via disqualification for an illegal strike. Every other victory on his record has come by stoppage. Standing six-foot-one with an exceptional 79-inch reach and generating 7.5 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy, Pinas brings considerable offensive firepower to the middleweight division.

Almeida, nicknamed "Cesinha," is a 38-year-old Brazilian fighting out of Lotus MMA. He holds a 7-2-0 professional record and has gone 3-2 inside the UFC. The orthodox striker stands six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach and lands 3.46 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy, making him one of the sharper volume strikers at this level of the division.

Why it matters

• Pinas enters as one of the more explosive young prospects at middleweight, with a massive reach advantage of five inches over Almeida
• Almeida's striking accuracy edge sets up a compelling contrast in styles — output versus efficiency
• A win for either fighter would strengthen a case for a ranking entry or jump, with both men still establishing themselves in the UFC middleweight picture
• The bout gives UFC 329's International Fight Week card an early and intriguing matchup to build around