UFC Belgrade: Jovan Leka destroys Alexander Poppeck with loud body kick knockout

Jovan Leka made history at UFC Belgrade, becoming the first Serbian fighter ever to score a UFC win in his home country after dispatching Alexander Poppeck with a devastating first-round body kick knockout. The 24-year-old heavyweight, competing in his UFC debut, stalked Poppeck from the opening bell and found his mark with a liver kick that visibly hurt his opponent. Follow-up shots prompted referee Vladimir Badrljica to stop the fight at 2:22 of round one.

Leka entered the contest as a significant favorite, and his opponent faced a challenging scenario: Poppeck, normally a light heavyweight, stepped in on short notice for injured Max Gimenis, arriving nearly 50 pounds lighter than Leka at Friday's weigh-ins. The physical disparity proved telling, as Leka's superior size and power dominated from start to finish.

With a record of 14-2, the Serbian heavyweight represents an emerging talent in the division. Though he competed on Dana White's Contender Series in 2025 and posted a decision victory over Azamat Nuftillaev, he wasn't initially signed. Since then, Leka has compiled two additional wins to earn his UFC opportunity. For Poppeck (21-6), the loss ends a five-fight win streak after he previously faced adversity when competing on the Contender Series in 2019, where he lost to Jamahal Hill.