The UFC’s first event in Serbia did not disappoint to say the least, as it was a record setting night for the promotion as UFC: Belgrade has the most first round finishes and most stoppages ever in a single night.
The night culminated with the record tenth first round finish as Serbia’s own Uros Medic (14-3) stopped Daniel Rodriguez (20-6) just 30 seconds into their main event welterweight bout, which was the twelfth stoppage of the night (also a UFC record). Medic hurt Rodriguez with a straight left, followed with an uppercut and knee, and the fight was over before it had barely started.
After extending his knockout streak to four in a row, Medic called out UFC’s number 1 ranked welterweight Carlos Prates and former 170-pound champion Leon Edwards.
The win carried extra weight as Medic (33) was born in Serbia, but hadn’t been back in nearly a decade — and fought in front of a home crowd for the first time as he captured his 6th first round UFC stoppage win.
Uros Medic (14-3) stopped Daniel Rodriguez (20-6) in 30 seconds to headline UFC Belgrade, extending his finishing streak to four straight knockouts and calling out Carlos Prates and Leon Edwards afterwards.
Medic hurt Rodriguez with a straight left, followed with an uppercut and knee, and the fight was over before it had barely started. Six of Medic’s UFC wins have now come inside the first round.
The win carried extra weight. Medic, 33, was born in Serbia but hadn’t been back in nearly a decade — and fought in front of a home crowd for the first time.
“I just want to cry,” Medic said. “I missed home so much. Nine years, it’s a long time. I left when I was 22 with a dream, and look where it got me.”
He had more to say on the way out.
“I’m gonna cook the rest of this division. Carlos Prates is way ahead of me but that would be a fight to remember. Leon Edwards — I think he’s still in hiding, but if he decides to come out of the hole he shoved himself into, I would gladly be next to knock him out.”