Spectacle in the Neighborhood Without a Single Croatian: The Region's Biggest Star Debuts in UFC

UFC is set to host its second event in the region, UFC Belgrade, on August 1, 2026. This marks the promotion's return to the Balkans ten years after its inaugural event in Zagreb, Croatia. While the Zagreb card in 2015 was a "Fight Night" event, it featured notable fighters like former heavyweight champions Junior Dos Santos and Francis Ngannou, along with Derrick Lewis and Gabriel Gonzaga, suggesting a higher caliber of competition.

The upcoming UFC Belgrade event is also classified as a "Fight Night," but the article suggests it may be of a lesser tier compared to the Zagreb event, particularly in terms of star power. A significant absence from the Belgrade card is any Croatian fighter. This is due to a serious knee injury sustained by promising heavyweight Ante Delija, who was expected to compete.

Despite the lack of Croatian competitors in the octagon, an Australian-Croatian heavyweight prospect, Brando Peričić, is expected to be present at UFC Belgrade as a guest of the organizers. The main event in Belgrade will feature a welterweight bout between Serbia's Uroš Medić and American Daniel Rodriguez. The co-main event will showcase former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz against Navajo Stirling.

The card also includes appearances by Serbian fighters Aleksandar Rakić and Duško Todorović, and Montenegrin fighter Miloš Janičić, aimed at filling the Belgrade Arena. Notably, the multi-day program preceding the main event included a "power slap" competition, which the article's author describes with strong disapproval, calling it a "sick idea."