Rakic Moves to Heavyweight for Belgrade Debut Against Tybura

The Las Vegas-based promotion has confirmed that Aleksandar Rakic will make his debut in the heavyweight division, taking on veteran Marcin Tybura at UFC Belgrade. The matchup was announced on Monday, marking a significant shift for the 34-year-old Austrian fighter who previously established himself as a contender in the 205-pound weight class.

The event is scheduled to take place on 1 August at the Belgrade Arena in Serbia. It will be headlined by a welterweight bout between Uros Medic and Daniel Rodriguez, with a middleweight contest between Dusko Todorovic and Robert Valentin also confirmed for the main card.

Rakic enters the bout following a difficult period in the light heavyweight division, having lost his last four Octagon appearances. His most recent outing occurred in October 2025 at UFC 321, where he suffered a first-round TKO defeat to Azamat Murzakanov. Prior to this losing streak, Rakic had won six of his first seven professional outings, securing victories over notable opponents including Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka, and Magomed Ankalaev.

Tybura, 40, brings considerable experience to the heavyweight ranks, holding a UFC record of 15 wins and 10 losses since beginning his tenure with the organisation in 2015. The Polish fighter is currently coming off back-to-back losses to Ante Delija and Tyrell Fortune, but his ledger includes victories over high-profile fighters such as Andrei Arlovski, Stefan Struve, and Tai Tuivasa. A former M-1 Global title holder, Tybura remains a seasoned presence in the division.

The move to heavyweight represents a strategic pivot for Rakic, who previously dominated the lower weight class before his recent setbacks. By stepping up in weight, the promotion aims to test Rakic’s adaptability against a veteran like Tybura, whose experience contrasts with Rakic’s recent struggles at 205 pounds. The outcome of this bout will likely influence future divisional alignments for both fighters.