Damian Pinas KOs Almeida after Jon Jones pep talk
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- Damian Pinas scored a first-round walk-off knockout against Cesar Almeida at UFC 329, improving to 10-1 with 10 stoppages
- Jon Jones approached Pinas backstage at T-Mobile Arena, shared a brief sparring session, and gave him a pep talk and warm-up demonstration before the fight
- Pinas called out rising middleweight prospect Baisangur Susurkaev post-fight, accusing him of snubbing a matchup
- UFC 329 featured Pinas' fight on the prelims, set against the headline bout of Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway, McGregor's first fight in five years
Why it matters: Pinas’ explosive performance and Jones’ endorsement elevate his standing in the middleweight division, giving him immediate credibility and potential fast-track positioning. With 10 stoppages in 11 wins, he now has the UFC’s attention at a marquee event where the spotlight was otherwise dominated by McGregor’s return.
