With UFC Serbia officially announced for August 1st at the Belgrade Arena, there couldn’t be a better crop of talent to pick from. Serbian prospects may be in the best spot they’ve ever been, making the timing of this card impeccable. In nearly every weight class, there is a justifiable prospect that could sign with the UFC and fit in without issue. However, a few have risen above the rest and stand out as Serbia’s top fighters. With only three fighters in the UFC currently repping the nation, the chances that we see 2-3 of these fighters sign for the card are very high.
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Miljan Zdravkovic (10-0) – Bantamweight
The most obvious Serbian to sign for UFC Serbia is the undefeated Miljan Zdravkovic. While Zdravkovic was named as a top 10 bantamweight to sign in 2026, he was also considered Shawn Bitter’s top Serbian prospect. The bantamweight has fought in BRAVE and KSW, and is currently the FNC bantamweight champion with one defense. His first title defense against Josh Hill was a testament to Zdravkovic’s well-rounded skillset. The 30-fight veteran in Hill presented no problems for the Serbian, who walked him down with his strong jab and pressure. His quick movement allowed him to slide out of the pocket and be hit clean only when he got overaggressive. His cardio stayed flawless for all five rounds, not slowing down at all en route to a lopsided unanimous decision win.
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While Zdravkovic doesn’t excel in any area, he’s a striker at heart with great boxing and power. His grappling defense and reversals are up to par, with strong back takes and control. His level of competition has been impressive, with his last six opponents combining for a 54-17-1 record. If anyone on this list would be considered a “lock” to get signed, it would be Zdravkovic.
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Vlasto Cepo (14-3) – Middleweight
A deadly brawler with finishes in all his wins, Vlasto Cepo has a whopping 13 first-round finishes. Fighting in Oktagon, Cepo has become a mainstay and fan favorite there with 8 fights in the promotion. After recently signing with Iridium, a top agency feeder for the UFC, many have speculated that he will be on the UFC Serbia card.
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Cepo starts fights like he was shot out of a gun, immediately marching in and exchanging punches. Constant exchanges, winging hooks, and damage are a given for any Cepo fight. Combinations in volume and overwhelming forward pressure make Cepo a must-watch all-action fighter. He completely abandons defense and fights with pure entertainment, even working the body very well. In the inevitable clinching from opponents that follows, Cepo does a great job staying on his feet and getting back to his feet. The type of entertainment Cepo provides consistently is exactly what the UFC is looking for. He’d be an incredibly exciting addition to the middleweight division.
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Milos Janicic (19-3) – Lightweight
Being the only non-Serbian native on this list may be confusing, but Janicic is a name I’ve heard rumblings about being signed ahead of this card. He is a clear deserving candidate, with an eight-fight winning streak in MMA that extends to 11 wins in a row when factoring in DBX. Janicic is a wrecking ball at lightweight, finishing all 19 of his wins. At just 28 years old, the experience he’s garnered against valuable opponents is crucial.
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In his last MMA fight, Janicic faced 22-fight UFC veteran Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira, dispatching him in under two minutes with ground-and-pound. While he was taken down easily in that fight, a slick reversal allowed him to get on top and immediately show off his finishing instincts. After that win, Janicic returned to DBX and scored a 44-second knockout after stunning his opponent and swarming him. Once the Moroccan smells blood or senses discomfort, he attacks relentlessly until the ref pulls him off. Janicic keeps his hands low to lure opponents into quick counters, with a showboating nature in his striking. Janicic stays very light on his feet, maintaining his power even when being forced backwards. His style does lead to recklessness defensively, sometimes walking into strikes or takedowns. However, a strong chin and great work off his back negate the weaknesses.
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Like Zdravkovic, Janicic has fought in KSW and FNC, as well as in Oktagon and Dirty Boxing. With three of his last four fights coming in DBX, it’s clear that his striking is a strong suit. A Serbian prospect who missed the cut for this list, Marko Bojkovic, was handed his first loss by Janicic. After starting his career 1-2, Janicic is 18-1 since then and primed for a UFC opportunity.
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Jovan Leka (13-2) – Heavyweight
Nina Nikolija Milosevic (8-1) – Women’s Bantamweight
Following an impressive 12-1 amateur career that ended with a 2022 IMMAF World Championship, Nina Nikolija Milosevic dropped her pro debut by split decision. She’s since won eight in a row and stakes a claim as the best Serbian women’s prospect right now. With the UFC signing a lot of fresh blood at W135 lately, her addition would make sense for the UFC.
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Milosevic has been extremely active throughout her career, having fought six times in 11 months. Half of her wins as a pro come by first-round finish, with a healthy mix of knockouts, submissions, and decisions. Milosevic is more of a grappler, with great back takes and an active submission game.
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On the feet, Milosevic has a nice right hand and strings together combinations well. Her volume when boxing is great once she gets flowing, constantly peppering with a clean jab. She can be imposed on a bit physically in the clinch, but has some really nice knees and knows when to apply pressure. While her level of competition isn’t incredible, it’s tough to find solid regional women’s bantamweights nowadays. For a deeper dive into Milosevic, check out Cedric Dumas’ article featuring her on his “She’s Next” series.
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