The countdown is on for one of the biggest moments in Aruban mixed martial arts history. In just 10 days, Damian “The Baba Yaga” Pinas will step into the Octagon in Las Vegas for the biggest fight of his professional career, representing Aruba on one of the UFC’s most anticipated events of the year.
On Saturday, July 11, Pinas will face Brazil’s César Almeida in a middleweight bout at UFC 329 inside the T-Mobile Arena. The event is headlined by the highly anticipated return of Conor McGregor, who faces Max Holloway in the main event during International Fight Week.
For Pinas, the opportunity extends beyond simply fighting on a major UFC card. He has been placed immediately before fan favorite Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett, a position that reflects the UFC’s growing confidence in the Aruban middleweight. Being featured just ahead of one of the promotion’s biggest stars is a strong indication that Pinas continues to climb through the ranks and establish himself as one of the division’s rising names.
Nicknamed “The Baba Yaga,” Pinas enters the bout with an outstanding 9-1 professional record. He is currently riding a five-fight winning streak, with eight of his nine victories coming by knockout. Even more impressively, seven of those wins were finished in the very first round, showcasing the explosive power and aggressive style that have quickly made him a fighter to watch.
His preparation for this fight has been nothing short of elite. Rather than training in just one location, Pinas split his training camp between Brazil and Las Vegas, allowing him to work with world-class coaches while also becoming fully acclimated to the Nevada climate, altitude, and fight week environment well before stepping into the Octagon.
Leading his camp is legendary head coach André Dede Pederneiras, one of the most respected coaches in mixed martial arts. His striking coach, Joziro Boye, also arrived in Las Vegas this week to oversee the final stages of preparation as Pinas enters the last stretch before fight night.
Standing across from him will be César Almeida, a dangerous Brazilian striker with an accomplished kickboxing background and knockout power of his own. The matchup promises to be an exciting battle between two explosive middleweights looking to make a statement.
For Aruba, Pinas’ appearance represents far more than another UFC fight. Competing on the same event as Conor McGregor and just before Paddy Pimblett places both Pinas and Aruba in front of millions of viewers around the world. It is another major milestone for Aruban combat sports and an opportunity to showcase the island’s growing presence on the international stage.
With just 10 days remaining, the anticipation continues to build. On July 11, Damian Pinas will once again carry the Aruban flag into the Octagon, looking to add another victory to his impressive résumé and take another significant step toward becoming one of the UFC’s top middleweight contenders.
