Damian Pinas
The Babayaga
Aruba
Will fight Cesar Almeida
Pinas will fight Cesar Almeida in a middleweight bout at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Pinas has a strong debut with the company, defeating Wes Schultz via TKO (punches) at 2:30 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night in Mexico City on Feb. 28. Pinas is just 23 years old and loaded with potential, but it remains to be seen how he'll do against a more complicated opponent in Almeida, who's 3-2 in his UFC stint with two KOs and two decision defeats.
Pinas has a strong debut with the company, defeating Wes Schultz via TKO (punches) at 2:30 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night in Mexico City on Feb. 28. Pinas is just 23 years old and loaded with potential, but it remains to be seen how he'll do against a more complicated opponent in Almeida, who's 3-2 in his UFC stint with two KOs and two decision defeats.
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Quick stoppage win in UFC debut
Pinas defeated Wes Schultz via TKO (punches) at 2:30 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Mexico City.
ANALYSIS
Pinas earned his UFC contract with a first-round knockout win on Dana White's Contender Series in late-September, and he looked equally dominant here in his official company debut. Facing a one-dimensional wrestler who doesn't move his head off the center line, Pinas simply fired off repeated power shots and almost all of them landed. It was a smart stoppage from referee Horacio Lopez, as things would have gotten worse for Schultz had it continued. At just 23 years of age, Pinas appears to have a ton of potential at 185 pounds. He's going to see a better opponent his next time out.
Pinas earned his UFC contract with a first-round knockout win on Dana White's Contender Series in late-September, and he looked equally dominant here in his official company debut. Facing a one-dimensional wrestler who doesn't move his head off the center line, Pinas simply fired off repeated power shots and almost all of them landed. It was a smart stoppage from referee Horacio Lopez, as things would have gotten worse for Schultz had it continued. At just 23 years of age, Pinas appears to have a ton of potential at 185 pounds. He's going to see a better opponent his next time out.
Newcomer for UFC debut
Pinas is scheduled to compete against Wes Schultz in a middleweight fight at UFC Mexico on Feb. 28, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
By finishing someone in under two minutes during Dana White's Contender Series, Pinas earned a UFC contract, which will begin in 2026. For the contract's first fight, his opponent will be a fellow DWCS contender in Schultz, who is 8-2 across his professional career.
By finishing someone in under two minutes during Dana White's Contender Series, Pinas earned a UFC contract, which will begin in 2026. For the contract's first fight, his opponent will be a fellow DWCS contender in Schultz, who is 8-2 across his professional career.
Folds opponent to earn contract
Pinas defeated Vitor Costa via TKO (punches) at 1:46 of Round 1 at Dana White's Contender Series on Tuesday. After the show, he was one of four fighters to be officially awarded a UFC contract.
ANALYSIS
This finish was a TKO in name only, as a jab-cross combination stopped Costa in his tracks before he woke up on the ground. Pinas throws incredibly hard and minds himself defensively, but it will be interesting to see how "The Babayaga" reacts the first time he runs into a fighter he can't scare out of the pocket. Still, an 80-inch reach and a willingness to throw in combination make him an interesting addition to a middleweight division that appears to grow stronger by the day. Pinas improved to 8-1-0 in professional MMA as a result of the victory.
This finish was a TKO in name only, as a jab-cross combination stopped Costa in his tracks before he woke up on the ground. Pinas throws incredibly hard and minds himself defensively, but it will be interesting to see how "The Babayaga" reacts the first time he runs into a fighter he can't scare out of the pocket. Still, an 80-inch reach and a willingness to throw in combination make him an interesting addition to a middleweight division that appears to grow stronger by the day. Pinas improved to 8-1-0 in professional MMA as a result of the victory.