UFC signs heavyweight prospect once rejected by Dana White
Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images Another heavyweight prospect has joined the UFC, as the promotion tries to strengthen what’s become one of its thinnest divisions. Since Francis Ngannou left and vacated his title, the weight class has struggled to regain any real momentum. Tom Aspinall, the current champion, is still out of action while he deals with lingering eye issues from his fight against Ciryl Gane.
In his absence, an interim title bout between Gane and Alex Pereira is set to take place. The UFC keeps adding names in an effort to bring back some depth and restore a bit of excitement to a division that’s fallen behind others in the sport. Serbian heavyweight Jovan Leka added to UFC Belgrade Photo by Maxim Konankov/NurPhoto via Getty Images The UFC has confirmed its first-ever event in Serbia, scheduled for August 1 at the Belgrade Arena.
The announcement has been met with plenty of anticipation, particularly from fans hoping to see local talent featured on the card. There’s already growing speculation that Leon Edwards could be in line to headline the event, potentially facing off against Uros Medic, who is currently Serbia’s top-ranked fighter. With limited Serbian representation on the roster, it’s expected the UFC will look to sign several regional fighters ahead of the event.
One of those moves is already confirmed: 24-year-old heavyweight prospect Jovan Leka has been booked for his debut against Max Gimenis. Leka holds a 13-2 record since making his professional debut in 2022 and was previously a champion with ARMMADA, a regional MMA promotion. He had an earlier chance to join the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series last October but wasn’t offered a contract despite winning by unanimous decision.
White spoke to Leka after that bout, saying: “I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is you’re only 23 years old, you’re 11-2. I didn’t love your fight; you’ve got plenty of time to make your way back here.