{"id":836197,"date":"2026-07-31T18:39:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T18:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/836197\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T18:39:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T18:39:13","slug":"ufc-belgrade-preview-medic-vs-rodriguez-main-co-main-event-predictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/836197\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Belgrade preview: \u2018Medic vs. Rodriguez\u2019 main, co-main event predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just one day away from the upcoming UFC Belgrade<\/a> mixed martial arts (MMA) event, set to go down tomorrow night (Sat., Aug. 1, 2026) on Paramount+<\/a> from inside Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia. UFC Belgrade features a welterweight main event between local hero Uros Medic and international jailbird<\/a> Daniel Rodriguez, a five-round showdown with possible title implications for late 2026 and beyond.<\/p>\n

Before we dive into the main and co-main event, which includes the short-notice<\/a> light heavyweight contest between Jan B\u0142achowicz and Navajo Stirling, check out Andrew Richardson\u2019s \u201cX-Factor\u201d breakdown for the rest of the UFC Belgrade main card by clicking here<\/a>. Get all the latest \u201cMedic vs. Rodriguez\u201d odds and betting props courtesy of FanDuel right here<\/a>. For UFC Belgrade live results for this weekend\u2019s Paramount+<\/a> fight card in Serbia click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Tim<\/a>\"MMA<\/p>\n

170 lbs.: Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez<\/p>\n

Uros \u201cThe Doctor\u201d Medic
Record: 13-3 | Age: 33 | Betting line: -395
Wins: 11 KO\/TKO, 2 SUB, 0 DEC | Losses: 1 KO\/TKO, 2 SUB, 0 DEC
Height: 6\u20191\u201d | Reach: 71\u201d | Stance: Southpaw
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 5.59 | Striking accuracy: 60%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 3.42 | Striking Defense: 56%
Takedown Average: 0.34 (50% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 55%
Current Ranking: No. 14 | Last fight: Knockout win over Geoff Neal<\/p>\n

Daniel \u201cD-Rod\u201d Rodriguez
Record: 20-5 | Age: 39 | Betting line: +310
Wins: 9 KO\/TKO, 4 SUB, 7 DEC | Losses: 1 KO\/TKO, 1 SUB, 3 DEC
Height: 6\u20191\u201c | Reach: 74\u201d | Stance: Southpaw
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 7.20 | Striking accuracy: 49%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 5.40 | Striking Defense: 57%
Takedown Average: 0.51 (50% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 64%
Current Ranking: No. 13 | Last fight: Unanimous decision win over Kevin Holland<\/p>\n

Uros Medic and Daniel Rodriguez are both ranked in the bottom half of the Top 15, but who\u2019s on top depends on your allegiance to the Meta or Media rankings. Either way, this appears to be a matchup of a fighter on his way up (Medic) versus a fighter on his way down (Rodriguez). Medic is no spring chicken at 33, but he\u2019s finally hitting his stride after graduating Dana White\u2019s \u201cContender Series\u201d back in 2020. His last four victories have all ended by way of first-round knockout and Medic has secured finishes in all 13 of his wins. That kind of violent offense \u2014 good enough for three post-fight performance bonuses \u2014 usually works in both directions and \u201cThe Medic\u201d has also been stopped in all three losses. Not only does he have an extremely high output for significant strikes per minute, he\u2019s also way above average in accuracy. Unfortunately, he\u2019s also susceptible to the takedown.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a five-round fight in front of us, in front of the home crowd, after nine years of not being home, so you can imagine the pressure,\u201d Medic told UFC.com<\/a>. \u201cI don\u2019t know if title fights get that much pressure. For nine years not to be home, and then go home, bring the UFC home, and perform on the main event is definitely a story to be told. It\u2019s gonna be a little emotional. It\u2019s normal \u2014 we\u2019re all emotional beings \u2014 and I\u2019m not gonna try to shy away from it, I\u2019m gonna embrace it. It\u2019s a big moment for myself, my family, my friends, my whole country. I\u2019m gonna try to enjoy it. I\u2019m gonna try to perform at the best possible performance I\u2019ve ever had to have the people of Serbia, and the rest of the world see that I can do better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDaniel Rodriguez has been here for a long time, has an incredible career with 20 wins with only five losses; that\u2019s a really incredible (record),\u201d Medic added. \u201cHe\u2019s fought some of the bigger names like Ian Garry, like Kevin Holland, like Santiago Ponzinibbio. It\u2019s a real challenge for me because I know that he\u2019s a tough fighter and it\u2019s not gonna be a walk in the park. I will be ready for five, 25, 105 minutes \u2014 I don\u2019t care. I\u2019m here. I\u2019m ready. This is what I asked for and I\u2019m not afraid of things I\u2019ve prayed for. I prayed for them, they\u2019re coming my way, and now it\u2019s all coming to light. My goal is always the same: deliver a masterful performance and make my way forward in the division, making my way up towards the Top 10, Top 5.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel Rodriguez has not competed for over a year thanks to his vacation in Mexican prison but departed UFC (and USA) on the strength of a three-fight winning streak. Those victories helped quiet talk of his career being done following three straight losses \u2014 all finishes \u2014 though it helped that he was fighting the bottom of the welterweight barrel. \u201cD-Rod\u201d has serviceable striking and prefers to box but he\u2019s also no slouch on the ground, having honed his ground skills at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. That\u2019s probably his best weapon against Medic, assuming he can absorb incoming fire long enough to get this fight to the floor. I think his temperament will be a big factor in Belgrade because he\u2019ll need to find a way to tune out an entire arena cheering for Medic, the hometown hero.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting released from prison, I thought I was in shape until I started doing some of the stuff you normally do during training,\u201d Rodriguez told MMA Junkie<\/a>. \u201cIt was definitely a process getting my body back to being able to perform at an elite level. It was all part of the process. I just had to trust the process and embrace the journey. I believed in the work I had ahead of me. I was a little discouraged at first. But with a situation like this, headlining a UFC event, made me realize this was real. I\u2019m very grateful to still be able to do this because there was a moment in time where I didn\u2019t think I was going to be able to continue my career. Now that I\u2019m able to, it definitely brings it to a new light in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can say the difference in this fight camp is I\u2019ve been a lot more dedicated and focused than my other fight camps,\u201d Rodriguez added. \u201cI\u2019ve just been really playing this one out right and show up to practice every single day, show up to the gym every single day. I\u2019ve barely taken days off, only when the coaches made me take days off. Even when they did, I would still go for a long-ass run or still do my own thing. Getting out [of prison] and the story blowing up like it did and the UFC giving me a new contract and this opportunity and a tough opponent, it definitely made me rise to the occasion and embrace it in this moment. It\u2019s an amazing story. I feel like it\u2019s definitely a story that needs to be in a movie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rodriguez performs well against mid-card competition and lower-ranked fighters, but every time matchmakers give him a step up in competition, he falters. We have to ask ourselves, is Medic now considered a step up? I think the layoff, combined with his age and deteriorating speed, puts Rodriguez at a marked disadvantage. I would also suggest Medic will be energized by the hometown crowd and come out feeling invincible. He\u2019s not, and that\u2019s something Rodriguez can exploit, I\u2019m just not sure he\u2019ll have the wherewithal to do so.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Medic def. Rodriguez by technical knockout<\/p>\n

205 lbs.: Jan B\u0142achowicz vs. Navajo Stirling<\/p>\n

Jan B\u0142achowicz
Record: 29-11-2 | Age: 43 | Betting line: +250
Wins: 9 KO\/TKO, 9 SUB, 11 DEC | Losses: 2 KO\/TKO, 2 SUB, 7 DEC
Height: 6\u20192\u201c | Reach: 78\u201d | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 3.55 | Striking accuracy: 50%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 3.14 | Striking Defense: 52%
Takedown Average: 0.98 (48% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 69%
Current Ranking: No. 13 | Last fight: Majority draw against Bogdan Guskov<\/p>\n

Navajo Stirling
Record: 10-0 | Age: 28 | Betting line: -310
Wins: 6 KO\/TKO, 0 SUB, 4 DEC | Losses: 0 KO\/TKO, 0 SUB, 0 DEC
Height: 6\u20194\u201c | Reach: 79\u201d | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 6.24 | Striking accuracy: 54%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 2.62 | Striking Defense: 58%
Takedown Average: 0.86 (26% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 71%
Current Ranking: No. 10 | Last fight: Technical knockout win over Ion Cutelaba<\/p>\n

Jan B\u0142achowicz is now 43 and clearly at the tail end of his combat sports career but he remains a problem for anyone at 205 pounds, particularly strikers. The Pole took Magomed Ankalaev to a draw and nearly defeated Alex Pereira at UFC 291 in a fight that was much closer than \u201cPoatan\u201d fans will admit. Blachowicz also neutralized a prime Israel Adesanya and took Carlos Ulberg to the judges \u2014 only the second opponent to do so over the last four years. On the downside, the former UFC light heavyweight champion hasn\u2019t secured a finish since he sent Dominick Reyes ass over teakettle back in late 2020 (I don\u2019t count the knee injury suffered by Aleksandar Rakic at UFC Vegas 54). He nicknamed himself \u201cPolish Power\u201d but we haven\u2019t seen much of that over the last few years and he also got away from his offensive wrestling. Between Adesanya, Pereira, and Jared Cannonier, Blachowicz rattled off 10 takedowns but only shot for one across his last two fights. He may need them to get past a younger, faster opponent who lands nearly twice as many significant strikes per minute.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy, still in the Top 15, still got it, still a fire inside me, so why stop now? Let\u2019s go, let\u2019s do it a couple more times,\u201d B\u0142achowicz told UFC.com<\/a>. \u201cI just love to do it. I don\u2019t think about [stopping]. I don\u2019t have to do it \u2014 I can quit right now, no problem, but what to do next? I\u2019m gonna miss it, so if my body is okay, if my mind is okay, I\u2019m gonna do it because when my body says, \u2018Stop!\u2019 I\u2019m gonna miss this. I need this win so much; no (judges) please. I need to finish this fight before time (is up). I need it, I want it, but I know, sometimes this pressure can stop you, so I don\u2019t want to put this pressure too much on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

B\u0142achowicz is 1-3-2 over the last five years with a lengthy injury layoff.<\/p>\n

\u201cLot of respect for [Stirling] because he\u2019s a young, hungry guy,\u201d Blachowicz said about his opponent. \u201cI have to be ready for him. We do small changes, but not too much because there is not time for that, but also, he prefers fighting standup, so nothing big changes. He\u2019s young, strong guy; good kickboxer. I\u2019ve fought against guys like him, fought a guy from his gym, so I think I\u2019m gonna know his style. He\u2019s younger than me, so maybe he will be a little faster than me, maybe stronger. I don\u2019t know; I have to feel it in the fight, but for sure, experience is on my side, and I have to use it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Navajo Stirling is the new kid on the 205-pound block and I think we all agree that fresh blood is needed after a couple of years of recycling top contenders. We don\u2019t yet know if Stirling is \u201cthat guy\u201d simply because he hasn\u2019t fought anyone ranked in the Top 15 and yet both the Meta Rankings and the Media Rankings have Stirling ranked, which is a conversation for another day. Jan Blachowicz represents a pretty good test for the 28-year-old Kiwi but a victory may come with an unofficial asterisk since the Pole is on the downside of his career and can\u2019t seem to win a fight, regardless of his toughness. It also helps that Stirling trains with light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg at City Kickboxing, as \u201cBlack Jag\u201d already holds a victory over Blachowicz from early last year. For this weekend\u2019s co-main event, Stirling will hold advantages in both height and reach but may face a more grapple-heavy offense from the 43-year-old Blachowicz.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a massive name in the UFC, former champion, I see this matchup as a huge opportunity for me to break out into the Top 15,\u201d Stirling said about Blachowicz during this week\u2019s UFC Belgrade media day<\/a>. \u201cNot only the Top 15, but the Top 5. I believe he\u2019s No. 4. That\u2019s the opportunity that has arisen; I\u2019m willing to take it with open arms. I love to fight, man, I just love to fight. I live and breathe this. It\u2019s just putting everything I\u2019ve learned over the years to the test, going up against this guy. At the end of the day, it\u2019s just a fight, and you\u2019ve got to take it like you would any other fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d just come off holiday mode in Japan,\u201d Stirling told Home Of Fight<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m always training in the gym despite whatever I\u2019m doing. That\u2019s my routine. But, yeah, just come off a massive bender and just rolled into the weeks and got offered a fight. I just said, \u2018Yeah, bro, I\u2019m keen. I\u2019m training everyday.\u2019 So, just got to utilize my youth. I just came off the best camp of my life, so why wouldn\u2019t I take it? I thought I was going to be the betting underdog. Maybe I gotta post my clips from Japan getting on the bender, maybe the lines will shoot the other way.\u201d<\/p>\n

B\u0142achowicz is getting no respect on the betting lines which surprises me when you consider his track record against the best fighters in the world. In addition, Stirling is just 10 fights into his MMA journey and hasn\u2019t proven himself against anyone of merit, so I\u2019m going to side with the former champion, who made a career out of shutting down flashy strikers like Stirling.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Blachowicz def. Stirling by unanimous decision<\/p>\n

Be sure to check out the rest of the UFC Belgrade main card predictions RIGHT HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just one day away from the upcoming UFC Belgrade mixed martial arts (MMA)…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":836198,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[570],"tags":[64,63,786,63173,40762,785,85,1396,179146,19457,7990,1647],"class_list":["post-836197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mma","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-fighting","tag-international-mma-news-results","tag-latest-ufc-mma-news","tag-mma","tag-sports","tag-ufc-news","tag-ufc-on-paramount","tag-ufc-predictions","tag-ufc-previews","tag-upcoming-ufc-events"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/836197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=836197"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/836197\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/836198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=836197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=836197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=836197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}