UFC debutants Jovan Leka and Alexander Poppeck look to leave a lasting impression in their maiden fight under the promotion, as they are scheduled for a heavyweight bout at UFC Belgrade on Saturday inside Belgrade Arena.
With a better pro MMA record and a higher finish rate, Leka heads into the match in his native Serbia as the betting favorite with -275 UFC odds. Meanwhile, Poppeck is going to be the betting underdog with +220 odds.
UFC Belgrade: Jovan Leka vs. Alexander Poppeck Fight Odds
- Jovan Leka: -275
- Alexander Poppeck: +220
UFC Belgrade: Jovan Leka vs. Alexander Poppeck: Tale of the Tape
| Jovan Leka | Alexander Poppeck | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 24 | 34 |
| Height | 6’4” | 6’3” |
| Reach | 79 inches | 74 inches |
| Leg Reach | N/A | 44 inches |
| Record | 13-2 | 21-5 |
| Fighting Style | Striker | MMA |
| Finishing Rate | 85% | 67% |
UFC Belgrade: Jovan Leka vs. Alexander Poppeck: Prediction
I predict a TKO/KO win for Leka over Poppeck, as he’s the natural heavyweight fighter and can overpower Poppeck in their grappling battle. Though Poppeck will hold the speed advantage, Leka will easily neutralize this by forcing him to a clinch.
Leka will also acknowledge the power that Poppeck has with his strikes, and I see him going for an early clinch. Once in this position, Leka will use his tricky trips to secure a takedown and put Poppeck on his back.
Then, Leka will fire vicious punches and elbows until he overwhelms Poppeck. While he’s punishing Poppeck with ground-and-pound strikes, I also expect Leka to threaten with submissions via quick transitions.
Jovan Leka’s Recent Fight Results
Leka is a former ARMMADA champion before he officially signed with the UFC earlier this year. The Serbian’s last five wins have come against Tiago Afonso, Genadi Zhorzholiani, Azamat Nuftillaev, Charlie Milner, and Danilo Suzart.
Alexander Poppeck’s Recent Fight Results
Poppeck is a former Ultimate Sparta Championship titleholder and an OKTAGON contender. He has recorded four wins (Pavol Langer, David Hosek, Jesus Samuel Chavarria, and Tomasz Narkun) and one no-contest (Mateusz Strzelczyk) in his last five bouts.
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