Yesterday, the Minister of Justice, Mr. Drs. Arthur Dowers, received professional athlete Damian “The Baba Yaga” Pinas in his office, in a moment of recognition for an athlete who represents Aruba with pride and is excelling on the international stage.
During the visit, Minister Dowers honored Damian for his outstanding performance in the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) at the UFC level, where Damian has achieved an impressive record of five consecutive wins, eight victories by knockout, and seven wins in the first round.
The UFC is the highest-level championship in the sport of MMA, where renowned athletes such as Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Jon Jones have achieved worldwide fame. For Aruba to have an athlete competing at this top level is considered a major achievement.
Damian, at a relatively young age, arrived in Aruba from Suriname. He attended school and grew up here to become who he is today, and he is proud to represent Aruba. In addition to striving to accomplish great things in the UFC, The Baba Yaga aims to obtain naturalization and receive a Dutch passport, which would be an important step for his international career.
Damian is an example of perseverance, discipline, and national pride, and his story inspires young people in Aruba to continue pursuing their dreams with determination and without limitations.
At the end of the meeting, Minister Dowers congratulated Damian and presented him with a gift that will support his development as an athlete
