Uros Medic put on a statement performance to stop Daniel Rodriguez in just 30 seconds at the UFC's first event in Belgrade, Serbia, sending a message to the rest of the welterweight division.
Medic, 33, returned to his homeland for the first time in nine years, having moved to the United States to train, and made the most of his homecoming. He dropped American Rodriguez with a left-right combination before forcing referee Jason Herzog to step in as he finished with kicks and punches on the canvas.
The win marked Medic's fourth successive first-round victory and takes his overall record to 14 wins and three defeats. He turned his attention to Birmingham's Leon Edwards and number-one contender Carlos Prates in the aftermath of a stunning victory.
Medic's TKO win took the overall tally on the card to a UFC-record 10 first-round finishes, with 12 finishes overall also a new high. The number 14-ranked welterweight expressed his desire to face Edwards, saying, "I asked for Leon Edwards, I think he's still in hiding, but if he decides to come out of the hole he's shoved himself into then I'd be glad to knock him out."
Earlier, Wales' Oban Elliott slumped to a third successive loss against Brazilian debutant Michael Oliveira. Oliveira sealed the win just shy of two minutes into the first round with ground and pound, extending his perfect professional record to 10 wins.
Elliott, 28, was seeking his first win since November 2024 and defeat puts his long-term future with the UFC in jeopardy. He has three victories and three losses on his record since coming through Dana White's Contender Series to earn a contract.
Serbia became the 33rd country to host a UFC card, and Medic rose to the occasion in front of a lively crowd on a record-breaking night. The win marked a triumphant return to his homeland for Medic, who expressed his emotions, saying, "It has been a really rough couple of weeks since I arrived home. It didn't feel like home even though I was on home soil. Now we got the job done I just want to cry."
Medic also reflected on his nine-year absence from Serbia, saying, "I missed home so much – nine years is a long time. I left as a student at 22 years old with a dream and look where it got me." The win sets Medic up for a potential showdown with Prates, who he believes is "way ahead of me in the division but this would be a fight to remember."
Source: Yahoo Sports