UFC Fight Night embarks on its first-ever event in Serbia, with the octagon set to land in Belgrade. The card is scheduled to feature 14 fights, with oddsmakers anticipating that eight of these contests will conclude before the final bell.

The preliminary card is set to begin at 10 a.m. ET and will be broadcast on Paramount+.

Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez

The main event pits Serbian fighter Uros Medic against Daniel Rodriguez. For Rodriguez, this fight follows a recent legal issue in Mexico, where he was jailed for possession of a small amount of cannabis.

Rodriguez is coming off a victory over Kevin Holland. He has a strong defensive record, having been knocked out only once in his mixed martial arts career, a loss against Ian Machado Garry, who is now competing for a title. Rodriguez's win against Holland demonstrated his endurance, as Holland visibly faded during their bout, leading to a decision loss for Holland.

While Medic has accumulated numerous wins, his previous opponents have largely been released from the promotion. His victories over Tim Means and Matthew Semelsberger are noted, but the level of competition has been questioned. Medic has also suffered a knockout loss to Punahele Soriano. Analysts suggest Rodriguez could present a significant challenge in enemy territory, with a particular betting angle focusing on Rodriguez to win by KO/TKO at +560.

Jan Blachowicz vs. Navajo Stirling

Veteran light heavyweight Jan Blachowicz will face Navajo Stirling. Blachowicz, at 43 years old, has lost his last four fights, though these losses were against highly competitive opponents, including former champions in his division.

Blachowicz narrowly lost a split decision to Alex Pereira and a unanimous decision to current champion Carlos Ulberg. Stirling, meanwhile, is an undefeated prospect within the UFC with a 6-0 record in the organization. He recently secured a knockout victory over Ion Cutelaba and is 28 years old.

Despite Blachowicz's age and recent losses, his experience and consistency are points of trust for some observers. Stirling's recent fight on June 20 represents a quick turnaround, with the suggestion that two fights within four weeks could be demanding. Blachowicz is seen as having a high floor as an underdog, and Stirling's UFC resume is considered not yet extensive enough to justify his -300 price tag. A betting prediction favors Blachowicz to win by KO/TKO at odds of 10/1.

Additional Fight Predictions

Other notable predictions for the UFC Fight Night Belgrade card include:

  • Aleksandar Rakic vs. Marcin Tybura: Fight goes the distance (+125)
  • Vlasto Cepo vs. Gilbert Urbina: Urbina to win after round one at +400 or better is suggested, citing Cepo's cardio issues.
  • Milos Janicic vs. Noah Gugnon: Janicic by decision (+650)
  • Ludovit Klein vs. Tofiq Musayev: Fight goes the distance (-135)
  • Oban Elliott vs. Michael Oliveira: Oliveira by KO/TKO (-139)
  • Borislav Nikolic vs. Mark Vologdin: Nikolic moneyline recommended for parlays.
  • Dennis Buzukja vs. Bogdan Grad: Fight goes the distance (-105)
  • Mateusz Rebecki vs. Kyle Prepolec: Prepolec by decision (+1100)
  • Nina Milosevic vs. Hailey Cowan: Fight goes the distance (+102)
  • Jovan Leka vs. Alexander Poppeck: Poppeck moneyline (+216)
  • Marina Spasic vs. Stephanie Luciano: Luciano by submission (+470)

Erich Richter, who contributes to the betting analysis, has a background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has shown profitability in MMA betting, particularly with long-shot wagers since 2022.