Andre Pederneiras: Damian Pinas hits harder than any fighter

Nova Uniao head coach Andre Pederneiras says Damian Pinas hits harder than any fighter he has worked with in more than three decades.

Pinas knocked out Cesar Almeida in the first round at UFC 329, bringing his professional record to 10-0 with nine knockouts and one submission. Pederneiras told Sherdog's Marcelo Alonso that he recognized the Aruba native's ability the moment he walked into the gym for a tryout in 2024.

What Pederneiras saw in Pinas from day one

"I've held pads for a lot of heavyweights, including elite strikers, and I've never seen anyone hit as hard as he does," Pederneiras said. The coach, who has developed elite mixed martial artists since the 1990s, added that Pinas learns at an unusual pace and has already submitted black belts during no-gi training sessions.

Pinas has made it clear he is not rushing toward a title shot. He told Sherdog that he originally predicted it would take him five years to reach the UFC but made it in three. Now 24 years old, he said five years to win the belt sounds reasonable.

The middleweight also said he wants to inspire children across Aruba, Suriname and the Caribbean to chase their goals. Pinas is expected to fight again later this year.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Andre Pederneiras: Damian Pinas hits harder than any fighter he's trained