Aleksandar Rakic ended a four-fight losing streak by outpointing Marcin Tybura at UFC Belgrade on Saturday, recording his first victory since 2021. UFC president Dana White acknowledged the win but publicly expressed skepticism about Rakic's ability to compete long-term at heavyweight. Rakic, who moved up from light heavyweight, said he was fighting for his UFC career and credited the home crowd in Serbia for inspiring the performance.
Aleksandar Rakic snapped a painful four-fight skid with a points victory over Marcin Tybura at UFC Belgrade on Saturday, claiming his first win since 2021 and doing so in front of a home crowd in Serbia that he credited with fueling the performance.
Rakic, known as "Rocket," enters his post-fight record at 15-6 and has spent his UFC career primarily in the light heavyweight division, where he is ranked 13th. The 34-year-old Austrian, who trains out of Gym 23, made the move up to heavyweight for this contest, bringing a six-foot-four frame and a 78-inch reach to the larger weight class. He lands 4.13 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate, figures that reflect the kind of output that once made him a legitimate light heavyweight contender before his recent slide.
Tybura, a 40-year-old Pole representing Ankos MMA, came in ranked 13th at heavyweight with a record of 27-12. Standing six-foot-three with a matching 78-inch reach, he averages 3.56 significant strikes per minute and generates 1.3 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded veteran capable of threatening in multiple areas.
The result ended Rakic's skid, but UFC president Dana White declined to offer a fully enthusiastic endorsement, publicly questioning whether Rakic has what it takes to compete at heavyweight over the long run. Rakic himself framed the fight in stark terms, acknowledging he was battling to preserve his spot on the UFC roster.
Why it matters
- Rakic halts a four-fight losing streak that had placed his UFC future in serious doubt
- Dana White's public skepticism adds uncertainty around whether a permanent move to heavyweight is viable
- A style clash between Rakic's high-volume striking and Tybura's takedown-oriented pressure made for a meaningful stylistic test at the new weight
- Both men sit at rank 13 in their respective divisions, leaving the path forward murky for each fighter
