Uroš Medić Reveals Serious Injury Days Before UFC Belgrade

Uroš Medić nearly missed his dream homecoming due to an injury sustained in the week leading up to the fight. The Serbian fighter's dream was on the verge of turning into a nightmare after he suffered an injury just days before his main event bout against Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Belgrade.

The welterweight veteran had always wanted to compete at home in Serbia, and UFC finally made that a reality for him. However, Medić sustained a knee injury during fight week. Despite this, in his own words, nothing could stop him from fighting in front of his home crowd.

"We managed, and I just put on a clinic, as I usually do, so I'm blessed. The biggest fight was actually outside the cage – getting through fight week and making weight. That was the real challenge in this fight for me," he added.

Judging by his performance, Medić certainly showed no signs of a knee injury, practically knocking out Rodriguez in one of the first exchanges of the bout. Medić dropped Rodriguez with a heavy punch, followed by several more, before the referee stopped the fight just 30 seconds into the first round. Medić celebrated the victory with his fans, and the UFC Belgrade crowd proved to be one of the loudest and most passionate in recent memory. Although he was nowhere near 100% due to the torn meniscus, Medić was determined to fight at home in Serbia and wasn't even too concerned about the outcome.

"Look, that's what makes me a great athlete – not just me, but all great athletes," Medić explained. "That's what makes us professionals. That's why we're at the top. That's why we're chosen. There are fighters everywhere, everyone trains some kind of combat sport nowadays, everyone wants to be a fighter. Only a small percentage succeed, and these are the reasons. When things go wrong, when it's bad, when everything is against you and points to alternatives, you have to understand that you've already burned the bridges. There's no turning back. This is your moment, and you have to embrace it and put everything on the line."

"When my time came, I knew it was my time. This is my moment. Even if I fall with honor, it's still my moment, and I'll fully embrace it. If I lose to a better fighter, I won't have regrets. I have no hard feelings. This is the fight game. That's what I signed up for," he further stated.

Of course, Medić secured a lightning-fast knockout, so his night ended even better than he could have imagined.

"The most incredible experience I've had in sports," Medić shared. "This was practically my most important fight night, and I performed brilliantly. It's so wonderful to enjoy this moment and receive recognition here in Serbia. It's just incredible."

As for the knee injury, Medić confirmed that he expects to undergo minor surgery to repair the damage, but it won't keep him out of action for long. "I'll have to have surgery, but it's not invasive," Medić said. "It will be one of those arthroscopic surgeries where they go in with a needle from both sides. I don't know exactly. Meniscus tears aren't a big deal, so it will probably be a month for recovery. I'll be back in no time."

With the expected short recovery time, Medić definitely plans to compete again before the end of the year, hoping to return in November or December.

"Before the holidays would be amazing," Medić said. "That way I can snowboard after the holidays and just enjoy my time in the mountains. That's what energizes me, that heals my soul."