Belgrade is preparing for a major weekend in international combat sports as the UFC makes its historic debut in Serbia on August 1. The event at Belgrade Arena will bring a full fight card featuring Serbian and regional athletes alongside established international names, while the arrival of UFC President Dana White has added further attention to an event that Serbia is presenting as an important sporting occasion. The UFC confirms that Belgrade will become the 170th city and 33rd country to host an event.
Ahead of the event, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić met with White in Belgrade, highlighting the political and promotional importance attached to the UFC’s first Serbian show. Vučić said tickets had sold out within minutes, while the visit also featured an exchange of symbolic gifts, with White presenting the Serbian president with a UFC championship belt. The meeting underlined how the event is being viewed not only as a sports spectacle but also as an opportunity to showcase Belgrade to an international audience.
UFC Serbia Debut Brings Major Names to Belgrade
The main event will feature Serbian fighter Uroš Medić against American Daniel Rodriguez in a welterweight contest. Medić enters the bout in strong form after three consecutive victories and will have the distinction of headlining the UFC’s first event in his home country. Rodriguez also arrives with three straight UFC victories, setting up a highly anticipated main event between two fighters entering one of the biggest spotlights of their careers.
Several other major names will share the card. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz is scheduled to face unbeaten prospect Navajo Stirling, while Serbian fighter Aleksandar Rakić will make his heavyweight debut against experienced Polish opponent Marcin Tybura. The card also features Serbian and regional fighters including Duško Todorović and Vlasto Čepo, giving the home audience several athletes to support throughout the night.
The UFC weekend is actually beginning before Saturday’s main event. On July 30, Belgrade Arena is hosting Power Slap 22, marking that organization’s first event in Europe. The program is headlined by the inaugural women’s featherweight championship fight between Sheena Bathory and Abby Montes, alongside a heavyweight title contest. The event gives Belgrade two major combat sports shows within just a few days.
The arrival of the UFC also carries significance beyond the competition itself. Large international sporting events can bring increased attention to a host city, attract visitors and create opportunities for local businesses and the wider tourism sector. The Serbian government has also placed considerable importance on the event, with public funding reportedly allocated toward its organization, reflecting the authorities’ interest in using major sporting events to promote the country internationally.
A Major Moment for Serbian MMA
For Serbian MMA, the home event represents an especially important moment. Fighters such as Medić, Rakić, Todorović and Čepo will have the chance to compete in front of a domestic audience while being showcased alongside internationally recognized UFC athletes. For fans in the region, meanwhile, the event provides an opportunity to see a major global MMA promotion on home soil.
With the first UFC event in Serbia now just days away, Belgrade is set to become a focal point for combat sports. The combination of international stars, local fighters and a separate Power Slap event gives the capital a particularly busy sporting weekend, while the UFC debut could establish Serbia as a more prominent destination for major international combat sports events in the future.
