Damian Pinas vs. Andrey Pulyaev
UFC 332 · October 3, 2026 · Delta Center · Prelims 7:00 PM ET
The brief
- What kind of fight
- Prospect finisher vs. slumping veteran
- Finish likelihood
- High
- The line
- No line posted yet
- The stakes
- Middleweight · Prelims
The read
Both men have finished the overwhelming majority of their wins, and neither has ever needed a third round to get the job done.
Pinas's volume and power at range should trouble a fighter who has been finished in two of his last three fights, but Pulyaev's length and southpaw angles are a live puzzle if he can keep the fight at distance early.
This is a live opening-round finish for either man, with a slight lean to Pinas on recent form and freshness.
The matchup
Pulyaev is on a two-fight UFC losing streak and needs a finish of his own to stop the slide, while Pinas has never left the first round without his hand raised.
Pulyaev's height and range give him tools Pinas hasn't faced yet — a 6-foot-4 frame with real knockout power — but he has also shown he can be finished early, going down to a body kick and to a rear-naked choke in his two UFC losses.
Pinas's ten-for-ten finishing rate says this ends fast; the only question is for whom.
Tale of the tape
| 10-1 | Record | 10-5 |
| 24 | Age | 28 |
| 6'1" | Height | 6'4" |
| 79.5" | Reach | 78" |
| Orthodox | Stance | Southpaw |
| Suriname | Country | Russia |
| Nova União | Team | Storm Shlemenko Fight Team |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Damian Pinas 10-1
“The Baba Yaga”
Pinas is a 24-year-old from Suriname, raised in Aruba, boxing since 19, now sharpening at Nova União in Brazil. Ten wins, ten finishes, nine by knockout, zero decisions — his only loss was a DQ. He punctuated a perfect UFC start with a first-round knockout of César Almeida at UFC 329 in July 2026, and now faces the toughest test of his career in a durable, more experienced Andrey Pulyaev.
- WCésar Almeida · KO (punch)UFC 329 · July 11, 2026
- WWes Schultz · KO/TKO, R1 2:30UFC Fight Night · February 28, 2026
- WVitor Costa · TKO (doctor stoppage), R1Contender Series S9 · September 30, 2025
Andrey Pulyaev 10-5
Pulyaev is a tall Russian southpaw from Alexander Shlemenko's Storm team who earned his contract on the 2024 Contender Series. Six of his ten wins are knockouts, but he has been fed tough matchups — after stopping Nick Klein in August 2025, he lost a decision to prospect Ateba Gautier and was choked out by Nursulton Ruziboev in June 2026. Now 1-3 in the UFC, he faces an undefeated finisher in Damian Pinas looking to end the skid.
- LNursulton Ruziboev · Submission (rear-naked choke)UFC Fight Night 280 · June 27, 2026
- LAteba Gautier · Decision (unanimous)UFC 324 · January 24, 2026
- WNick Klein · TKO (body kick and punches)UFC Fight Night: Taira vs. Park · August 2, 2025