Damian Pinas made his intentions clear following UFC 329, calling out Baisangur Susurukaev and expressing full confidence in the matchup. Pinas dismissed Susurukaev as an easy opponent and promised a knockout finish.
The night after UFC 329, Damian Pinas made his next target known, calling out Baisangur Susurukaev and guaranteeing a knockout finish when the two eventually meet.
Pinas, who fights out of the orthodox stance at six-foot-one with a 79-inch reach, carries a 10-1-0 record at just 24 years old. Nicknamed "The Babayaga," the young prospect has built a reputation as a dangerous striker, landing an impressive 6.33 significant strikes per minute at 63 percent accuracy — numbers that place him among the more precise and active volume strikers in his division. His ground game appears to play a secondary role, with no takedown or submission activity registered in his career stats, suggesting he is content to settle matters on the feet.
In the callout, Pinas was unambiguous, dismissing Susurukaev as someone he expects to handle without difficulty and backing that assessment with a specific promise of a knockout victory. The confidence is notable given Susurukaev's own standing in the division, though Pinas showed no hesitation in making the challenge public.
Why it matters
- Pinas is only 24 with a 10-1 record, and a high-profile callout signals he is ready to step up in competition
- His striking output and accuracy suggest a potentially dangerous stylistic test for any opponent willing to stand with him
- A confirmed matchup would carry clear divisional implications, with Pinas looking to climb the rankings on the back of a statement win
Saturday, July 11, 2026
