The UFC returned to Mexico City on Saturday with a Fight Night card stocked with a good half dozen newcomers.
UFC Mexico City was kicked off by a pair of debuting fighters, with the first preliminary card fight of the night featuring middleweights Damian Pinas And Wesley Schultz.
Both fighters had earned their way into the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025.
Round one opened with Pinas immediately asserting control, firing off three hard leg kicks. The third visibly buckled Schultz, forcing him into a reactive takedown attempt— one that Pinas calmly shrugged off.
Moments later, Pinas stepped in behind a sharp one-two that dropped Schultz to the canvas. Schultz recovered quickly and desperately chased another takedown, but Pinas’ defense was strong. After stuffing the attempt, he separated and blasted Schultz with a right uppercut that put him down again.
Rather than rushing in, Pinas allowed Schultz to stand, almost inviting him back into range. That proved costly. Another crisp one-two sat Schultz down for good, forcing the stoppage and capping off a dominant opening-round performance.
“I’m not here just to fight, I’m here to become a champion… What the future holds for me is the title, the belt,” Damian Pinas told Michael Bisping after the win, which saw him maintain his 100% finish rate. Pinas said he knows he’ll need a few fights to get there, then asked “who’s next? WHO’S NEXT??”
Official Result: Damian Pinas def. Wes Schultz by TKO (punches), Round 1, 2:30
