Serbian heavyweight Jovan Leka will make his UFC debut against Germany's Alexander Poppeck on August 1 at UFC Belgrade.
The event marks the promotion's first visit to Serbia.
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Poppeck steps in on short notice after original opponent Max Gimenis withdrew due to injury.
He accepted the fight just 10 days before the event, moving up from light heavyweight.
At the official weigh-ins, Leka tipped the scales at 262.5 pounds, while Poppeck weighed 215 pounds. That gives the local fighter a 47.5-pound advantage.
Despite the size difference, Poppeck said he couldn't turn down the opportunity. "This opportunity, despite being at heavyweight, I had to take it," he said.
He acknowledged he is not a natural heavyweight. "I am not really a heavyweight.
I am usually fighting at light heavyweight," Poppeck added.
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Still, he views the bout as a career-defining chance. "But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I had to take it," he said.
Leka enters with a 13-2 professional record and a six-fight winning streak. He recently captured a title under the ARMMADA promotion.
Standing 6-foot-5 with a 79-inch reach, he has seven knockouts and four submission wins.
Poppeck brings a 21-5 record into his UFC debut, riding a six-fight unbeaten streak in Oktagon MMA.
The 34-year-old holds 13 KO/TKO victories and stands 6-foot-2 with a 74-inch reach.
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The heavyweight contest is part of the preliminary card. The main event features Serbian fighter Uros Medic against Daniel Rodriguez.
