Alexander Popek will lastly make his long-awaited UFC debut on August 1st in Belgrade, Serbia. The German hotshot will exchange Max Gimenis, who was initially scheduled to face Jovan Reka.
Let’s take a look at Alexander Popek.
Alexander Popek usually competes at gentle heavyweight (205 kilos), however as a consequence of a 10-day turnaround, he’ll make his UFC debut at heavyweight.
For Popek, the prospect to combat within the UFC has been a very long time coming. He beforehand competed on Dana White’s Contender Sequence in 2019, the place he encountered future UFC champion Jamahal Hill and stopped him with a second spherical TKO.
Since showing on DWCS, Alexander Popek has change into a mainstay on the European scene, amassing a 12-2-1 NC report throughout a number of promotions. General, “Ironside” has a powerful skilled report of 21 wins and 5 losses.
Since October 2022, Popek has competed in OKTAGON MMA, one among Europe’s main promotions. He gave the impression to be the following contender for Will Fleury’s gentle heavyweight OKTAGON title following his unanimous determination victory over Tomasz Narukun. As a substitute, he’ll get a fair larger alternative by becoming a member of the UFC. After this debut, Popek will possible return to his unique weight class, gentle heavyweight.
Alexander Popek’s opponent: Jovan Reca
Jovan Reca will even make his UFC debut in entrance of his hometown followers in Serbia. A pure heavyweight, the Serbian has knowledgeable report of 13 wins and a pair of losses. He picked up a win final summer time with a win over Azamat Nukhtilayev on Dana White’s Contender Sequence, however did not get a UFC contract that night time. After two extra regional wins, most just lately a second-round TKO win over Danilo Szuzato, Reka lastly acquired a call-up to the world’s high MMA promotion.
Robust setback for Max Gimenis
This was additionally an unlucky setback for Max Gimenis. The Brazilian broke his leg in the course of the remaining sparring session of coaching camp on Sunday, forcing him to withdraw from the competition. Gimenis confronted an extremely tough process in his UFC debut final November in opposition to Josh Hokit, shedding by knockout in 56 seconds. This match additionally marked Hokit’s promotional debut. Gimenis mentioned he stays hopeful of returning by the tip of 2026.
Alexander Popek and Jovan Reca ought to make for an thrilling matchup of hungry debutants, with each males desirous to make an announcement of their first UFC appearances.
UFC Belgrade is simply 9 days away and there are presently 13 fights scheduled. The official match order has not but been introduced, however this is how the cardboard is shaping up.
Principal occasion:
- Uros Medic vs. Daniel Rodriguez (Welterweight)
Sub-main occasion:
Verified important card:
- Marcin Tybura vs. Aleksandar Rakic ​​(heavyweight)
Scheduled matches:
- Mateusz Rebecki vs. Kyle Prepolets (light-weight)
- Vlast Sepo vs. Gilbert Urbina (Welterweight)
- Dusko Todorovic vs. Robert Valentin (middleweight)
- Milos Janić vs. Noah Gunnion (light-weight)
- Ludovit Klein vs. Tofik Musaev (light-weight)
- Bogdan Grad vs. Denis Buzkuja (featherweight)
- Mark Vologdin vs. Josias Moussa (bantamweight)
- Nina Milosevic vs. Hayley Cowan (girls’s bantamweight)
- Michael Oliveira vs. Orban Elliott (Welterweight)
- Marina Spasic vs. Stefani Luciano (girls’s strawweight)
