Damir MihajlovicCoach·Damir Mihajlovic, the visionary founder of the ARMMADACompetition·ARMMADA MMA promotion and president of the Family Fight TeamTeam·Family Fight Team, has voiced a confident prediction for his star pupil, Jovan LekaPlayer·Jovan Leka. Following Leka's successful debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFCCompetition·UFC), Mihajlovic asserts that the Serbian heavyweight is destined to claim the coveted UFCCompetition·UFC title.
Leka made a significant impact on August 1, 2026, at UFCCompetition·UFC Fight Night in BelgradeVenue·Belgrade, securing a technical knockout (TKO) victory in the first round against Aleksandar PopekPlayer·Aleksandar Popek. The decisive liver shot, delivered before a home crowd, elevated Leka's professional record to 14-2 and marked a powerful entry into the world's premier mixed martial arts organization.
Leka's journey to the UFCCompetition·UFC octagon has been a testament to his persistence and skill. His path included an appearance on Dana White's Contender SeriesCompetition·Dana White's Contender Series in October 2025, where he defeated Azamat NuftilaevPlayer·Azamat Nuftilaev by unanimous decision. Although he did not immediately secure a contract, Leka continued to build his resume, notably earning a first-round submission victory under the Brave CFCompetition·Brave CF banner against Danilo SuzartPlayer·Danilo Suzart. This extended his winning streak to six matches, ultimately leading to his official UFCCompetition·UFC signing.
Mihajlovic's belief in Leka has been unwavering, even when met with skepticism. In an interview recorded prior to Leka's BelgradeVenue·Belgrade fight but published on August 6, 2026, Mihajlovic reflected on the early doubts.
"When I said publicly, in podcasts and so on, that Jovan Leka would be in the UFC, everyone laughed. Now they don't laugh anymore... And when I said that he would not lose to Azamat Muftilaev, they laughed again... Now we are here and they see that it is serious. It's a matter of time. He will win the belt in Serbia! I am sure that one day he will be a UFC heavyweight champion."— Damir Mihajlovic.
Beyond his role with Leka, Mihajlovic, known in fighting circles as "Dado," also expressed a broader vision for regional collaboration within MMA. Having organized events for 14 years, he understands the intricacies of the sport's promotion and hopes to foster stronger ties between Serbian and Bulgarian teams within ARMMADACompetition·ARMMADA, welcoming them to participate in future events.
As of August 2026, Jovan LekaPlayer·Jovan Leka is an active competitor in the UFCCompetition·UFC heavyweight division. While his debut victory was a strong statement, he is yet to enter the official top 15 rankings, which are currently led by champion Tom AspinallPlayer·Tom Aspinall and include formidable contenders such as Ciryl GanePlayer·Ciryl Gane, Alexander VolkovPlayer·Alexander Volkov, and Sergei PavlovichPlayer·Sergei Pavlovich. The path to a championship is arduous, but Mihajlovic's conviction sets a clear ambition for the rising Serbian star.
Jovan Leka (left) fights Danilo Suzart at the ARMMADA 17 tournament in Novi Sad, Serbia. NurPhoto/IMAGO
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