The octagon makes its long-awaited debut in Serbia this Saturday, when the UFC invades Belgrade Arena in the nation’s capital city for a Fight Night card featuring 14 bouts, many of which include some of Europe’s top MMA fighters.
It will be an early start for the event, slated for Saturday at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT, and we’re here to tell you everything you need to know about UFC Belgrade before all the action goes down.
Welterweight sluggers clash in main event
The main event of UFC Belgrade features a five-round welterweight bout between Serbia’s Uros Medic and American Daniel Rodriguez. Both men are known for putting on fan-friendly fights, so don’t expect this one to need the allotted 25 minutes to determine a winner.
Medic has won three straight fights by knockout, and all 10 of his UFC bouts have ended inside the distance. Expect Medic to be fired up for the opportunity, as he’s fighting in his hometown and getting a main event slot for the first time in his UFC career.
As for Rodriguez, he is turning 40 years old this year and just finished an eight-month stint in a Mexican jail after being in possession of marijuana at the U.S. border. The layoff is a concern, but Rodriguez’s form in the UFC before his time in jail was very impressive — three straight wins — and he has looked good as of late while preparing for the fight.
This should be a fantastic main event between two fighters who love to stand and bang for the fans’ enjoyment, so look for someone to get knocked out in this key welterweight headliner. Medic is the clear hometown favourite, but Rodriguez has been known for pulling off an upset or two.
Former UFC champ looks to get back into win column
In the co-main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz takes on Navajo Stirling as he looks to get his first win since 2022.
Blachowicz is 0-2-2 in four fights since he last had his hand raised. At 43, he is currently the second-oldest fighter on the UFC roster — just 13 days younger than Stephen Thompson, who really needs to move on from his “Wonderboy” nickname.
Originally, Blachowicz was set to battle Bogdan Guskov in a rematch of their draw at UFC 323 in December, but Guskov was pulled from this event to fight Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Abu Dhabi. As a result, UFC matchmakers called up a rising star in Stirling on short notice to battle Blachowicz in a massive opportunity.
The 28-year-old Stirling is 10-0 in his MMA career and is already 5-0 in the UFC. The New Zealander has been looking crisp with his striking as of late, and now he gets the chance to take out a former UFC champion and move into the light heavyweight rankings.
It’s a tough fight for Stirling, as Blachowicz is a legend of the game, but seeing that the former champ is nearing his mid-40s, this could be the fight where his chin finally gives in on him.
Longtime light heavyweight makes heavyweight debut
For the last nine years, Aleksandar Rakic has been a staple of the UFC light heavyweight division. But, after losing his last four fights, the Serbian is moving up to heavyweight with a stern test against gatekeeper Marcin Tybura.
Though Rakic hasn’t won a fight since he beat Thiago Santos in March 2021, he is still a huge betting favourite to win this bout against Tybura, who is 40 years old and has a declining chin.
It wouldn’t be completely shocking for Tybura to pull off another upset, as he’s made a career of doing so, but it’s more likely that Rakic gets back into the win column by scoring a much-needed KO.
Exciting welterweight prospect makes UFC debut
One of the top prospects on a card full of them is Brazilian Michael Oliveira, who is finally making his debut inside the octagon after a standout performance on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Oliveira is 9-0 so far in his MMA career, and eight of those wins have come via knockout. There’s a ton of hype for him ahead of his UFC debut against Oban Elliott, a struggling fighter who has lost back-to-back bouts.
Given Elliott’s poor performances as of late, this should be Oliveira all day. UFC fans can expect him to show off his fast, powerful hands with another quick and violent knockout victory.
Several of Europe’s finest fight in the octagon for the first time
There are several other fighters making their debuts on this card, including many of the top prospects in Europe.
On the main card, Serbia’s Vlasto Cepo takes on Gilbert Urbina. Cepo has won all 14 of his victories by finish, and he has a favourable matchup here against the chinny Urbina.
Also on the main card, we have a battle of UFC newcomers when Milos Janicic takes on Noah Gugnon. Janicic has won eight fights in a row by stoppage and enters the UFC with a ton of hype, while Gugnon has won five fights in a row by finish. Given how much finishing ability both of these fighters possess, fans shouldn’t expect this fight to go the distance.
On the prelims, Borislav Nikolic takes on Mark Vologdin in a bantamweight bout. Nikolic has won six straight fights by stoppage, but the durable Vologdin won’t be easy to put away.
At heavyweight, Jovan Leka and Alexander Poppeck both make their respective UFC debuts in a fight that is unlikely to go the distance, given their knockout power.
Finally, two of the top women’s MMA prospects fight in the UFC for the first time as Nina Milosevic takes on Hailey Cowan at 135 pounds and Marina Spasic battles Stephanie Luciano at 115 pounds. It’s always nice to see new blood in the women’s divisions, and that’s certainly the case here.
Overall, UFC Belgrade should be a fantastic card with a nice mix of veterans and newcomers.