Pinas stops Almeida again in round one to move to 10-1 at UFC 329

Damian Pinas extended his record to 10-1 with a first-round knockout of Cesar Almeida at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11, 2026, claiming his second consecutive first-round finish inside the Octagon.

The middleweight contest began as a competitive striking exchange before Pinas ended it decisively, dropping Almeida with a right hand. The referee allowed one additional punch before waving off the bout, with Almeida appearing unconscious before the stoppage was called.

Pinas, nicknamed “The Baba Yaga”, is widely associated with his jab-cross combination, but he believes UFC 329 showed a broader skillset. “I showed them that I can do more than they know,” he said in a post-fight interview. “Some people see the video; they think, ‘Damian is a striker, just a simple 1-2.’ I can do whatever I want. I just throw my 1-2 because it’s the easiest way to put them out.”

Despite the pattern of early finishes — Pinas has gone past the first round only twice in his ten career victories — the 24-year-old insists the stoppages are not a conscious strategy. “I’m not here to finish fights early; it just happens. I don’t do it; it just happens. I’m ready to fight three-round fights. But when I touch them, they get out. I naturally am patient with everything. I’m a chill guy.”

The win also counts as his third first-round finish across all MMA outings, including his victory on Dana White’s Contender Series that earned him his UFC contract.

For Almeida, the defeat leaves him on a two-fight losing streak and at 3-3 inside the UFC. The Brazilian, who entered the bout at 7-2, now faces questions about his standing in the middleweight division after back-to-back setbacks.