Noah Gunnon Submits Milos Janicic in Round 1 at UFC Belgrade

Noah Gunnon announced himself on the UFC stage in emphatic fashion, submitting Milos Janicic by rear-naked choke at just one minute and 22 seconds of the first round at UFC Belgrade, with both men making their promotional debuts.

The fight ended almost before it had a chance to begin. Janicic suffered a leg injury early in the opening exchanges when he made contact with his opponent's elbow, and Gunnon wasted no time capitalising. A well-timed low kick exploited the damaged limb and brought the fight to the canvas, where the Frenchman quickly worked into position and locked in the rear-naked choke to force the stoppage.

At just 25 years old, Gunnon moves to 10 wins and 2 losses with the finish, and notably every single one of his ten victories has come by way of stoppage. That finishing rate signals a dangerous competitor who rarely needs the judges to render a verdict on his behalf.

For Janicic, the defeat is a significant setback. He had arrived in Belgrade riding an eight-fight winning streak, making him one of the more decorated prospects stepping onto the UFC roster. That run now comes to an end, though his willingness to compete at the highest level on debut speaks to his ambition.

Why it matters

• Gunnon's perfect finishing record across ten victories marks him as a genuine threat in his division from day one on the UFC roster.
• Janicic's eight-fight streak gave him considerable momentum heading into his debut, meaning this result carries real weight beyond a routine opener.
• The manner of the finish — exploiting an early injury with clinical follow-up — suggests a composed, experienced approach from a fighter still only 25 years old.
• Both men now have UFC experience, and how each responds to this result will shape their respective trajectories on the roster.