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UFC Belgrade live blog: Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez

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UFC Belgrade live blog: Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez

This is the live blog for Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez, the welterweight main event for Saturday's UFC Belgrade card at Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia.

Medic—currently No. 15 at 170 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings—is on a hot streak, with three first-round knockouts in his past three fights. The Serbian star has one mission and one mission only, to go for the finish or leave on his shield. In 16 pro bouts, Medic (13-3) has never gone to the scorecards. Following his recent win over Geoff Neal, Medic called for the UFC to bring an event to his country and now that his wish has been granted, the pressure is on him to deliver.

On the other side, Rodriguez (20-5) looks to get back on track after his career was recently derailed by an eight-month stint in a Mexican prison. Rodriguez is also on a three-fight win streak, having knocked off veterans Kevin Holland, Santiago Ponzinibbio, and Alex Morono, and now has to play the spoiler in front of a hostile crowd.

Check out the Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez live blog below.

Well that helped move things along!

UFC Belgrade has mostly been a fun show, but the heavyweight bought really brought the energy down. Fortunately, Navajo Stirling picked things back up, and there's almost no way this fight isn't fun.

Jason Herzog is the ref. There are 3 judges but I will be SHOCKED if they're needed.

Bruce Buffer gets things going and he's milking it a bit. But that's his thing, and the crowd is here for it.

We took our time with these walkouts. Rodriguez had a long walk to the arena, where he was loudly booed. Of course. And Medic's walkout was also long but fun as this arena seems very lively. Huge moment for him.

Medic is 6 years younger, but gives up 3 inches of reach. He is the favorite at -400 though, with Rodriguez at +310.

Buffer gets things going and this crowd is lively. Let's have fun!

Medic leads with a leg kick. Rodriguez does the same and it catches Medic in between, dropping him.

OHHHHHHHH! Rodriguez bounces forward and Medic explodes with a huge hook! Sends Rodriguez crashing to the canvas! Jumps on top and brings the thunder and this is over in seconds!!!!!!!!!!

Oh man, we've got soccer hooligan energy in this crowd with a man blazing some flares in the stands! Biggest moment of Medic's life and he delivered in the biggest way.

And the crowd is chanting his name. This is awesome.

Uros Medic def. Daniel Rodriguez via TKO (punches) — 0:30, Round 1.

Medic is on the verge of big emotions in his post-fight interview. The crowd is still chanting his name and he's clearly moved by it. He speaks to them before translating himself, saying it's been a really rough couple of weeks and that he didn't feel like he was home, even though he was on home soil. It's been nearly a decade since he's been in Serbia.

Then he gives a speech about leaving home when he was 22 and how he got here.

“I have so many words, I don't think we have enough time tonight. With that being said, I'm going to cook the rest of this division. With you guys by my side, we're going to bring the belt to Serbia.â€

Medic then says he's like to fight Carlos Prates, but knows he way ahead of him. Then calls out Leon Edwards, before sending us home.

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Natalia Silva went from sleeping in UFC gym to fighting for gold

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Natalia Silva went from sleeping in UFC gym to fighting for gold
Natalia
Silva never stopped believing in herself, even when she
considered walking away from mixed martial arts.

Silva (20-5) is scheduled to face Cong Wang
(10-1) for the vacant
Ultimate Fighting Championship women's flyweight title at
UFC
332 on Oct. 3 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Ahead of her
championship bout, Silva reflected on her journey to title
contention and the hardships she has overcome.

Natalia Silva recalls living at her gym before earning UFC 332
title shot

Silva credits her perseverance and belief in herself with helping
her overcome hardships throughout her career. She recently revealed
that she once lived at her gym and slept on a physical therapy bed.
The Brazilian admitted there were several occasions when she
considered quitting mixed martial arts but credits her faith and
the people around her with helping her continue.

“I think what brought me here was believing in myself and never
quitting and continuing regardless of what happens,†Silva told the
UFC. “No matter what I did in my life and what I was able to
accomplish, it was always a very tough journey. I have gone through
a lot of challenges. There were moments that I had to live in the
gym. I actually lived in the physical therapy room; I slept in a PT
bed for a while. Things were never easy. And in many moments, I
thought of giving up, of quitting… Always, God has strengthened me,
surrounded me with people with a kind word for me.â€

Silva is undefeated in eight UFC appearances, with her last three
victories coming against Jessica
Andrade, Alexa
Grasso and Rose
Namajunas. Meanwhile, Wang is riding a four-fight winning
streak and is coming off a victory over Tracy
Cortez.

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Conor McGregor gets unexpected UFC title backing from Jose Aldo

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Conor McGregor gets unexpected UFC title backing from Jose Aldo
Jose
Aldo has offered some advice and encouragement to former rival
Conor
McGregor.

McGregor injured his knee in the opening seconds of his rematch
against Max
Holloway in July, which marked the end of a five-year Octagon
hiatus. He damaged his ACL and meniscus and underwent surgery in
August. The Irishman is targeting a return in the summer of 2027
for what would be the final bout of his
Ultimate Fighting Championship contract.

Not only does Aldo wish McGregor the best, but he also believes the
former two-division champion can shake things up at lightweight and
potentially reclaim UFC gold.

Jose Aldo believes Conor McGregor can re-enter the UFC
lightweight title picture at 155

Aldo and McGregor shared a contentious relationship in the lead-up
to their 2015 title bout, which McGregor won by knockout in just 13
seconds, ending Aldo's 18-fight, nearly decade-long winning streak.
McGregor frequently mocked and belittled Aldo as part of his
pre-fight psychological warfare.

Nevertheless, Aldo no longer holds any ill will toward McGregor and
wants him to return to the win column. He believes his former foe
should consider returning to lightweight rather than competing at
welterweight when he comes back.

“I always hope for the best, so I hope that tomorrow he's doing
well physically and psychologically, too, and that he can return to
the UFC and have great fights again,†Aldo told MMA Fighting. “I think first he needs to go
through some dietary re-education to see if he can get back down
and be lighter again. I think, in my opinion, he has the frame for
155, so it would be good.â€

The Brazilian also believes McGregor could quickly work his way
into title contention with a significant victory.

“And I'll tell you this… Today, if Conor fights at 155 and beats a
name, the division is wide open again,†Aldo added. “To me, the
division has kind of stalled there. Ilia [Topuria] moved up and
lost to [Justin] Gaethje, so it's a bit of a mess there and anyone
can come in and snatch the title.â€

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Khamzat Chimaev, Colby Covington finally set to settle long-running feud

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Khamzat Chimaev, Colby Covington finally set to settle long-running feud
Khamzat
Chimaev and Colby
Covington are finally set to square off.

Real American Freestyle announced Wednesday that the former

Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder and
former interim champion will collide for the cruiserweight
crossover championship at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14. The event will
take place at Etihad Arena.

Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Colby Covington for the RAF
cruiserweight crossover title in Abu Dhabi

Covington captured RAF's inaugural cruiserweight crossover
championship by defeating Arman
Tsarukyan at RAF 11. Chimaev later called for a match against
“Chaos†after his recent victory over Gilbert
Burns. That bout served as the co-headliner at RAF 13, where
Covington defended his title against Belal
Muhammad.

The feud between Covington and Chimaev dates back to Covington's
time in the UFC, and the bad blood continues to this day.

RAF Abu Dhabi will also feature Arman
Tsarukyan, Henry
Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev,
with their opponents yet to be announced.

The inaugural RAF Abu Dhabi event marks the start of a five-year
partnership between Real American Freestyle, the Department of
Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the UAE
Wrestling Federation.

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