Rodriguez headlines UFC Belgrade after eight months in Mexican prison

Daniel Rodriguez returns to the UFC octagon as a headliner on August 1, stepping straight into the main event of UFC Fight Night 283 at Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia — the promotion’s first ever card in the country — after spending approximately eight months in a Mexican prison.

The UFC announced on Monday that Rodriguez will face Uros Medic in the Belgrade headliner. Rodriguez, 39, last competed in July 2025, when he earned a unanimous decision over Kevin Holland at UFC 318 to extend his winning streak to three consecutive fights, a run that also includes victories over Santiago Ponzinibbio and Alex Morono. Shortly after that win, he was arrested while attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border with marijuana and was held in Mexican custody for around eight months before his release.

Medic, an Alaska-based fighter of Serbian descent, lobbied for the UFC to stage an event in his ancestral homeland after knocking out Geoff Neal in the first round at UFC Houston on February 21. Known as “The Doctor,” Medic holds a 7-3 record inside the UFC, with every one of his seven wins coming by knockout or technical knockout.

Also expected on the card is a heavyweight contest between former light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker and Ante Delija.