Middleweight prospects collide on Saturday night as Damian Pinas faces Andrey Pulyaev at UFC 332: Silva vs. Wang in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Pinas (10–1, 2–0 UFC) has kicked off his Octagon tenure with back-to-back first-round knockouts, most recently stopping Cesar Almeida at UFC 329 in July. Pulyaev (10–5, 1–3 UFC) has struggled since joining the promotion and is coming off a first-round submission loss to Nursulton Ruziboev in June.
Pinas enters as an overwhelming -575 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Pulyaev is a +425 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Damian Pinas vs. Andrey Pulyaev Fight Preview
Damian Pinas
- 10–1 (2–0 UFC)
- 9–0 (T)KO
- 1–0 SUB
It would be hard to imagine a more electric start to a UFC career than Damian Pinas’. The Aruban prospect, 24, flashed his wrecking-ball power with a brutal first-round knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series — and he’s done the same thing in his first two trips to the Octagon.
“The Baba Yaga” heads into Salt Lake City with a 100 percent finish rate, with six straight first-round knockouts/TKOs. While not undefeated, his only professional loss came by disqualification for an illegal kick. With a turbo-charged right hand, Pinas only needs one clean shot to end a fight.
Andrey Pulyaev
- 10–5 (1–3 UFC)
- 6–1 (T)KO
- 2–1 SUB
More often than not, Andrey Pulyaev has drawn the short end of the stick with his UFC opponents. The 29-year-old Russian has already faced surging prospects Christian Leroy Duncan, Ateba Gautier, and Nursulton Ruziboev — dropping all three.
Although the Dana White’s Contender Series graduate has showcased solid movement and stoppage prowess — as evidenced by his second-round TKO win over Nick Klein — he arrives in Salt Lake City with a compromised chin. After getting knocked down twice by Gautier earlier this year, Pulyaev likely can’t afford to eat another big shot from another dangerous knockout threat.
Damian Pinas vs. Andrey Pulyaev Pick, Best Bet
Sometimes, the UFC gives a promising young talent the chance to extend their highlight reel by pitting them against a beatable opponent. This seems to be the case in Saturday’s clash between Damian Pinas and Andrey Pulyaev. The former has recorded eight first-round knockouts in 11 trips to the cage — including six straight — and should make quick work of an already chinny adversary.
