The wait is over. Tonight, Aruba’s own Damian “The Baba Yaga” Pinas returns to the UFC Octagon for the biggest fight of his professional career as he faces Brazilian striker César Almeida at UFC 329 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Fight fans on the island will not have to wait long to see him in action. The event begins at 5:00 p.m. Aruba time, with Pinas scheduled as the fourth fight of the evening. He is expected to make his walk to the Octagon between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m., depending on the length of the earlier bouts.
Pinas successfully made weight during Friday’s official UFC weigh-ins, clearing the final hurdle before fight night. With preparations complete, all attention now turns to the Octagon.
The Aruban middleweight enters the contest carrying an impressive 9-1 professional record and a five-fight winning streak. Known for his explosive knockout power, Pinas has earned eight of his nine victories by knockout, with seven of those finishes coming in the opening round. His aggressive style has quickly made him one of the UFC’s most exciting rising middleweight prospects.
Preparation for tonight’s fight has been unlike any previous camp. Pinas divided his training between Brazil and Las Vegas, allowing him to work alongside elite coaches while acclimating to the Nevada climate and the demands of UFC International Fight Week.
Leading his camp is legendary MMA coach André Dede Pederneiras, while striking coach Joziro Boye recently arrived in Las Vegas to oversee the final phase of preparations.
Standing across the cage will be César Almeida, an accomplished Brazilian striker with a dangerous kickboxing background and serious knockout power. With both fighters known for ending fights early, fans are expecting fireworks from the opening bell.
Tonight’s event is one of the UFC’s biggest cards of the year, taking place during the organization’s annual International Fight Week. The card is headlined by the highly anticipated return of Conor McGregor against Max Holloway, bringing millions of viewers from around the world. Adding even more significance, Pinas is scheduled to compete immediately before fan favorite Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett, another sign that the UFC continues to view the Aruban as one of its rising stars.
For Aruba, tonight represents far more than another fight. It is another opportunity for one of the island’s brightest sporting talents to showcase Aruban mixed martial arts on one of the biggest stages in combat sports.
The countdown is over. Tonight, Damian Pinas carries the Aruban flag into the Octagon once again, looking to deliver the biggest win of his career and take another major step toward the top of the UFC middleweight division.
