In the main event of the UFC’s first ever trip to Serbia, surging welterweight contender and countryman Uroš Medić will be taking on California’s veteran, Daniel Rodriguez. Since moving up to welterweight, Medić is 5-2 in his last seven, most recently scoring a first round knockout over Geoff Neal at UFC Houston. Daniel Rodriguez is coming off of an eight month stay in Tijuana, with his last win being a decision win over Kevin Holland more than a year ago. Medić is a sizable favorite here, and for good reason. Since moving up to welterweight in 2023, Medić has been on an absolute tear. He boasts a wild striking game with great power, and does a great job at range. Medić thrives in brawls, and does some of his best work from the boxing/clinch range, throwing tight combinations consisting of uppercuts and hooks. Rodriguez prefers a rangier, slower fight, which does not favor him in this matchup. Medić will be able to push Rodriguez back, and will eventually knock him out with a combo against the cage.
Pick: Medić by second or third round KO/TKO
Jan Błachowicz vs Navajo Stirling:
In the co-main event of the evening, Navajo Stirling steps up on two weeks notice to take on former champion Jan Blachowicz. Since defending his title against Israel Adesanya in 2021, Jan has had a pretty tough run. He has fought all three of the most recent champions, with losses to Carlos Ulberg and Alex Pereira, as well as a draw with Magomed Ankalaev. Navajo Stirling is quickly making a name for himself as a true contender in the light heavyweight division. Undefeated as a professional and hailing from the widely-touted City Kickboxing, Stirling has five wins in the UFC since debuting in 2024. Jan Blachowicz has shown on many occasions that he can hang with the best in the world, but has also displayed a lack of output and urgency to really set himself apart from his opponents. Stirling is an elite kickboxer, and has shown flashes of greatness in his UFC run to date. Expect Stirling to be able to maintain distance well enough, and stuff the majority of Jan’s takedown attempts. Stirling will likely win a 29-28 decision, where Jan once again shows he can hang with just about everyone, but doesn’t do enough to get his hand raised.
Pick: Stirling by UD
Aleksandar Rakić vs Marcin Tybura:
Making his heavyweight debut, Aleksandar Rakić will be taking on the well established veteran Marcin Tybura. Rakić is 2-5 in his last seven, and has been knocked out in three of his last four. Tybura has fought some of the best competition at heavyweight, and is 2-3 in his last five. While Rakić has all the technical skill in the world, he struggles with fighters that ignore his distance striking and use physicality and force to press forward and land. His durability has also become a major concern as of late; he was knocked out by a stiff jab in his last fight against Murzakonov. On the other hand, while Tybura doesn’t have the cleanest technique, or crispy boxing, he does a good job of plodding forward and pushing his opponents against the fence with heavy combinations that can lead into his wrestling. Rakić is a pretty sizable favorite here, which seems a bit egregious. That being said, expect Rakić to get this one done with his outside striking, and cleaner technique, but keep a close eye on him moving forward against more technically sound heavyweights.
Pick: Rakić by UD
Duško Todorović vs Robert Valentin:
Heading to the middleweight division for our third fight of the card, home countryman Duško Todorović takes on the kickboxer Robert Valentin. Both fighters are 1-3 in their last four. Although Todorović has the home field advantage, Valentin should have a slight advantage in this matchup. He boasts an extremely odd striking style that likely will not work against better competition, and has the jiu jitsu to countergrapple effectively. Todorović is definitely skilled, but will likely struggle to win striking exchanges, and will lose a close decision on a lack of output.
Pick Valentin by UD
Vlasto Čepo vs Gilbert Urbina:
In the second fight of the main card, Vlasto Čepo is on a three fight win streak leading into his UFC debut. Čepo is a brawler that is easily capable of dragging opponents into deep waters, but has shown some grappling deficiency in some of his recent performances. Urbina certainly has more experience in the UFC, but has only won a single fight of his five opportunities in the promotion to date. If Urbina had slightly better wrestling he may be able to pose more of a threat for his opponent. Čepo will likely bring a storm and finish Urbina in the first three minutes, and the odds are reflective of that.
Pick: Vlasto Čepo by KO/TKO
Miloš Janičić vs Noah Gugnon:
In the opener of the main card, we have two debutants making their entrance to the UFC lightweight division. Janičić is an elite kickboxer, with some of the highest volume striking you could imagine for a lightweight. He is 5-0 in his last five, and recently grabbed a 90 second knockout over UFC vet Alex Oliveira. Across the cage is Noah Gugnon, who has a boxing background that is extremely prevalent in the way he competes. He has a stiff jab, and does an excellent job creating angles, sprawling takedowns, and not exiting with his head straight up. This will slightly favor him in this matchup, against a high volume, pressure brawler. If Gugnon can keep light on his feet and create angles, there is serious potential for a big knockout to begin his journey with the promotion. That being said, Janičić creates a pressure and pace that could prove tricky for anyone to deal with. Expect this fight to end in a finish, with either Gugnon scoring an early knockout, or Janičić eventually breaking him later in the fight. Another interesting thing about this one is that the line opened with Janičić as more than a 3-1 favorite, but the odds have moved all the way to even money. Going with Gugnon to score an early knockout, and earn his first win in the UFC.
Pick: Gugnon by KO/TKO
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