Damian Pinas vs. César Almeida
UFC 329 · July 11, 2026 · T-Mobile Arena
Damian Pinas def. César Almeida — KO (punch), R1 4:44
The kickboxing shootout delivered, just on a delay. Both men traded big shots early without much landing clean, then at 4:44 of the first round Pinas sent a right hand straight down the middle that dropped Almeida and ended it on the spot. Ten pro wins, ten finishes for the 24-year-old — he still has never heard a scorecard read.
The breakdown below was written before the fight.
Pinas has never seen a scorecard and Almeida's fights at 38 tend to end when someone's timing slips. The young man's volume should overwhelm within two rounds — but Almeida is precisely the kind of veteran counter-puncher who punishes a 24-year-old's first mistake. Blink and you miss it either way.
The Matchup
Two kickboxers, zero combined interest in wrestling — neither man has landed a UFC takedown. This is a pure striking generation gap: Almeida has the deeper technical toolbox from 56 professional kickboxing fights; Pinas has fourteen years of youth, a five-and-a-half-inch reach advantage, and double the output (7.5 landed per minute to 3.46). Almeida's counters are the trap; Pinas's pace is the steamroller.
Tale of the Tape
| Damian Pinas | César Almeida | |
|---|---|---|
| 9-1 | Record | 7-2 |
| 24 | Age | 38 |
| 6'1" | Height | 6'1" |
| 79.5" | Reach | 74" |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
| Suriname | Country | Brazil |
| Nova União | Team | Superfight Team (São Paulo) |
The Numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
Damian Pinas
“The Baba Yaga”
A 24-year-old from Suriname, raised in Aruba, boxing since 19, now sharpening at Nova União in Brazil. Nine wins, nine finishes, eight by knockout, zero decisions — his only loss was a DQ. KO'd Wes Schultz in round one of his February UFC debut. (His UFC stat line is from that one short fight — small sample.)
- WWes Schultz · KO/TKO, R1 2:30UFC Fight Night · February 28, 2026
- WVitor Costa · TKO (doctor stoppage), R1Contender Series S9 · September 30, 2025
- WWesley da Silva Marques · KO/TKO, R1Shooto Brazil 127 · December 13, 2024
César Almeida
“Cesinha”
A former professional kickboxer with a 47-8-1 record and 27 KOs across Glory and WGP before switching to MMA late. At 38 he's 3-2 in the UFC, dangerous in every standing exchange, and coming off a decision loss in December.
- LCezary Oleksiejczuk · Decision (unanimous)UFC on ESPN 73 · December 13, 2025
- WAbdul Razak Alhassan · KO (punch), R1 4:16UFC Fight Night · January 11, 2025
- WIhor Potieria · Decision (unanimous)UFC 307 · October 5, 2024