The UFC’s first trip to Serbia proved unforgettable, producing a record-setting night of violence.

There’s a new record for 1st round finishes for a UFC event. The 14-fight card produced 12-finishes with a new record being set at 10. 

The main event kept the tone of the night. The card was built around Serbia’s own rising welterweight Uros “The Doctor” Medic, and he delivered exactly what the hometown crowd hoped to see. A willing participant to engage on the feet Daniel Rodriguez landed his first leg kick with authority before Medic got into the pocket staggering  Rodriguez with a left hand and the killer instinct followed finishing on the ground. Four straight first-round finishes should have Medic knocking on the door of the welterweight top ten.. 

Rising Light Heavyweight contender Navajo Stirling made a major statement dispatching of former champion Jan Blachowicz in under three minutes. Blachowicz buckled Stirling’s knees with a jab. The Kiwi landed a big right hand putting Blachowicz down. From inside the guard Stirling busted open the 40-year-old with elbows and finished the fight with punches. Stirling didn’t just beat a former champion—he overwhelmed one. Defeating Jan Błachowicz in under three minutes is the biggest victory of the unbeaten New Zealander’s career and should vault him into the title conversation.

Making his heavyweight debut, Aleksandar Rakic looked comfortable carrying the extra weight. Using movement, range management and clean boxing, he neutralized Marcin Tybura before cruising to a unanimous decision. If this version of Rakic sticks around, the heavyweight division just gained another intriguing contender.

Brazilian super prospect Michael Oliveira made an explosive Octagon debut announcing his arrival in emphatic fashion. Oliveira walked down Oban Elliott wobbling him with a stiff jab, dropping the Welshman with a right hand and clobbering his way to a finish on the ground. 

The most entertaining scrap on the card came from Mark Vologdin and Borislav Nikolic. Vologdin caught Nikolic coming in with a big shot for an early knockdown. After surviving an early knockdown, Nikolic steadily took over with cleaner boxing, excellent distance management and timely counters to earn what was arguably the Fight of the Night.

The UFC couldn’t have scripted a better debut in Serbia. Between the electric atmosphere, the hometown hero delivering in the main event, and a record-setting night of first-round finishes, Belgrade immediately established itself as a city worthy of future UFC events.

Quick Results 

UFC Belgrade Main Card on Paramount+  (3 p.m. ET):

• Welterweight: Uros Medic (14-3) def. Daniel Rodriguez (20-6) by TKO (Strikes) 0:30 R1
• Light Heavyweight: Navajo Stirling (11-0) def. Jan Błachowicz (29-12-2) by TKO (Right Straight & Ground Strikes) 2:56 R1
• Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic (15-6) def. Marcin Tybura (27-12) by (30-2y x3) Unanimous Decision
• Middleweight:  Robert Valentin (12-6) def. Dusko Todorovic (13-7) by Submission (Guillotine Choke) 4:14 R1 
• Middleweight: Gilbert Urbina (8-4) def. Vlasto Cepo (14-4) by TKO (Left Straight & Ground Strikes) 1:01 R1
• Lightweight: Noah Gugnon def. Milos Janice (19-4) by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 1:21 R1

UFC Belgrade Preliminary Card on Paramount+  (12 p.m. ET):

• Lightweight: Tofiq Musayev (24-6) def. Ludovit Klein (24-6-1) by TKO 4:07 R2
• Welterweight: Michael Oliveira (10-0) def. Oban Elliott (12-5) by TKO (Straight Right & Ground Strikes) 1:49 R1
• Lightweight: Borislav Nikolic (17-2) def. Mark Vologdin (12-5-2) by (29-27 x3) Unanimous Decision 
• Featherweight: Bogdan Grad (16-4) def. Dennis Buzukja (12-7 ) by Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) 4:33 R2
• Lightweight: Mateusz Rebecki (21-5) def. Kyle Prepolec (18-11) by TKO (Ground Strikes) 4:41 R1
• Women’s Bantamweight: Nina Milosevic (9-1) def. Hailey Cowan (7-6) by TKO (Right Hands to Body) 3:41 R1
• Heavyweight: Jovan Leka (14-2) def. Alexander Poppeck (21-6) by TKO (Body Kick & Ground Strikes) 2:22 R1
• Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano (8-2-1) def. Marina Spasic (7-2) by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 3:30 R1 

About The Author

Caged Minds

See author's posts