The countdown is nearly over. In just two days, Aruba’s own Damian “The Baba Yaga” Pinas will step back into the UFC Octagon for what is expected to be the biggest fight of his career. On Saturday, July 11, the Aruban middleweight will face Brazilian striker César Almeida at UFC 329 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The bout takes place during the UFC’s annual International Fight Week, one of the organization’s premier events. Headlining the card is the long-awaited return of Conor McGregor, who takes on Max Holloway in one of the most anticipated fights of the year. Fighting on a stage of this magnitude puts Pinas in front of millions of viewers from around the world.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, Pinas has been scheduled to fight immediately before fan favorite Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett. Appearing this late on such a major card is another indication that the UFC continues to invest in the Aruban fighter as one of the promotion’s rising middleweight prospects.
Pinas enters the contest with a 9-1 professional record and is currently riding a five-fight winning streak. Known for his explosive style, he has earned eight victories by knockout, with seven of those finishes coming in the opening round. His ability to end fights quickly has made him one of the division’s most exciting athletes to watch.
Preparation for UFC 329 has been extensive. Rather than remaining in one location, Pinas split his training camp between Brazil and Las Vegas, working with elite coaches while acclimating to the Nevada climate and the demands of fight week well before stepping into the Octagon.
His camp is led by renowned MMA coach André Dede Pederneiras, while striking coach Joziro Boye recently joined him in Las Vegas for the final phase of preparations. With the hard work complete, the focus now shifts entirely to fight night.
Standing across the cage will be César Almeida, an accomplished Brazilian striker with an impressive kickboxing background and knockout power of his own. With both fighters known for their finishing ability, the matchup is expected to deliver fireworks from the opening bell.
For Aruba, this fight represents another proud milestone. Competing on one of the UFC’s biggest cards of the year allows Pinas to showcase not only his own talent but also the growing presence of Aruban mixed martial arts on the international stage.
With only two days remaining, excitement continues to build across the island. On Saturday night, Damian Pinas will once again carry the Aruban flag into the Octagon, aiming to earn the biggest victory of his career and take another major step toward becoming one of the UFC’s top middleweight contenders.
