Jovan Leka scores quick knockout against Alexander Poppeck at UFC Belgrade

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BELGRADE, SERBIA - AUGUST 01: (R-L) Jovan Leka of Serbia kicks Alexander Poppeck of Germany in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Belgrade Arena on August 01, 2026 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC) Jovan Leka didn’t miss his chance to make history at UFC Belgrade. The debuting heavyweight became the first Serbian fighter ever to score a UFC win in his native country, dropping Alexander Poppeck with a nasty body kick to set up a quick first-round knockout. Watch Leka’s powerful stoppage below. 👂 LISTEN to the sound of this liver kick landing by Jovan Leka to get the finish at #UFCBelgrade 😳 pic.twitter.com/s2sJA1xiOm — MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) August 1, 2026 Leka was heavily favored heading into Saturday’s contest at Belgrade Arena, with Poppeck—usually a light heavyweight—stepping in a little over a week’s notice for an injured Max Gimenis and coming in almost 50 pounds lighter than Leka at Friday’s official weigh-ins. The strength and power difference was evident from the start as Leka walked Poppeck down, hunting for the knockout early. It didn’t take long for Leka to land a devastating liver kick that visibly rattled Poppeck and a few follow-up shots later, referee Vladimir Badrljica stepped in for the stoppage at the official time of 2:22. The 24-year-old Leka (14-2) could be one to watch in the heavyweight division. He previously competed on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025, but wasn’t signed despite scoring a decision victory over Azamat Nuftillaev. Since then, Leka won two more fights to earn his UFC opportunity. Poppeck (21-6), who lost to Jamahal Hill on the Contender Series back in 2019, sees a five-fight win streak come to an end.

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Jovan Leka is the first Serbian fighter to win a UFC fight in Serbia