Damian Pinas says early finishes just happen after UFC 329 KO

Damian Pinas stopped Cesar Almeida in the first round at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, then told reporters he does not plan his fights around early finishes.

Pinas dropped Almeida with a right hand and landed one more shot before the referee waved it off. The finish marked his second straight opening-round stoppage inside the Octagon and his third in a row dating back to his Dana White's Contender Series appearance last year. Only two of his ten career wins have gone past the first five minutes.

Pinas defends his patient approach despite knockout streak

Despite the pattern, Pinas insists he enters the cage ready for three full rounds. "I'm not here to finish fights early; it just happens," the 24-year-old said after the fight, per Sherdog. "I don't do it; it just happens. I'm ready to fight three-round fights. But when I touch them, they get out."

Pinas acknowledged that some observers reduce his game to a basic jab-cross combination. He said the Almeida fight showed a broader skill set. "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," he told media members.

Pinas improved to 10-1 with the win. Almeida dropped to 7-3 and has now lost consecutive bouts. Pinas said his relaxed temperament carries over from daily life into competition. "I naturally am patient with everything. I'm a chill guy."

The middleweight has not announced his next opponent or a target date for his return.

Original reporting:

• sherdog.com — Damian Pinas: 'I'm not here to finish fights early; it just happens'