Damian Pinas dedicates UFC debut win to Dana White

Damian Pinas wants Dana White to keep an eye on him after a spectacular debut at UFC Mexico City. Pinas (9-1) took on Wesley Schultz (8-3) in a middleweight bout to kick off the action at UFC Fight Night 268 on Saturday at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico. “Baba Yaga” dropped his opponent with an uppercut before flattening him with a 1-2 combo midway through the first round.

Pinas had also scored a first-round knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series last year to earn his UFC contract. However, since Pinas did not receive a performance bonus for the Contender Series victory, the Aruban is hoping for some extra money after his impressive UFC debut. Pinas dedicated the knockout to Dana White and wants to oversee the UFC head honcho. Pinas says he can be a company man for the UFC and the future of the middleweight division.

‘Everyone is going to look at me’

“I have news for Dana White,” Pinas said in a post-fight interview with the UFC. “This KO is for him. On the Contender
[Series] I KO’d a guy who wasn’t in the UFC, so I couldn’t get the ‘Performance of the Night’. So I did this one again for you, Dana White. I hope I get the POTN. I did it for you, this KO is for you… Now everyone is going to look at me. Dana White will also keep a closer eye on me. I am the future of the division, I came here to be the champion of the middleweight division. I can also be a company man for the UFC.”Pinas has advanced past the first round only twice in his nine professional victories. The 23-year-old prospect’s only professional loss came via disqualification due to an illegal kick in 2024.