Damian Pinas Knocks Out Cesar Almeida in Round 1 at UFC 329

Q: After scandal and a long layoff, can Conor McGregor's performance justify his headline return?

Only if McGregor delivers a credible, competitive performance against Max Holloway; anything less is unlikely to justify the sporting side of this headline return. Commercially, the UFC hardly needed justification. McGregor remains the promotion’s biggest draw, and his comeback has been built around that reality: a 13-year rematch, a former two-division champion, and a star who still commands attention despite years away. That explains why UFC 329 is built around him. Sportingly and ethically, the bar is much higher. McGregor returns after a five-year layoff from competition, an 18-month anti-doping suspension that expired in March, and the recent failure of his appeal in a civil sexual assault case. He is also 37, has only one win in the past decade, and is coming off a long recovery from the leg break he suffered in 2021. Those factors make this more than a normal comeback. The matchup sharpens the test. Holloway has stayed active at elite level and is widely viewed as the more reliable fighter over five rounds, especially on pace, durability and volume. McGregor’s path is narrower: he likely needs to show that his timing, power and movement still matter against a high-output opponent. A win would strongly validate the booking. A close, competitive loss might still partly justify it by proving he remains relevant at top level. But if he fades badly, looks physically diminished, or is overwhelmed, the return will look driven mainly by star power rather than merit.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 11

A straight right in the opening round flattened Cesar Almeida, giving 24-year-old Damian Pinas a first-round knockout at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.
The finish was notable because Almeida had never previously been stopped in MMA, despite an extensive combat-sports background that included three kickboxing bouts with Alex Pereira.
Pinas entered as the betting favorite with a 5.5-inch reach edge, five straight wins and first-round stoppages in six of his eight prior victories.
The middleweight bout was part of a UFC 329 card headlined by Conor McGregor’s return against Max Holloway later Saturday.