UFC Fight Night: Jovan Leka vs Alexander Poppeck Preview & Prediction
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Heavyweights are on deck for an intriguing clash on the early prelims, with hometown favorite, Jovan Leka, facing off against Oktagon veteran, Alexander Poppeck.
Jovan Leka vs Alexander Poppeck facts
What time are Jovan Leka and Alexander Poppeck expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez? Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 283
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez main card
Uros Medic vs Daniel Rodriguez (Welterweight)
Jan Blachowicz vs Navajo Stirling (Light Heavyweight)
Aleksandar Rakic vs Marcin Tybura (Heavyweight)
Dusko Todorovic vs Robert Valentin (Middleweight)
Vlasto Cepo vs Gilbert Urbina (Middleweight)
Milos Janicic vs Noah Gugnon (Lightweight)
UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez prelims
Ludovit Klein vs Tofiq Musayev (Lightweight)
Oban Elliott vs Michael Oliveira (Welterweight)
Borislav Nikolic vs Mark Vologdin (Bantamweight)
Dennis Buzukja vs Bogdan Grad (Featherweight)
Mateusz Rebecki vs Kyle Prepolec (Lightweight)
Nina Milosevic vs Hailey Cowan (Women’s Bantamweight)
Jovan Leka vs Alexander Poppeck (Heavyweight)
Marina Spasic vs Stephanie Luciano (Women’s Strawweight)
Jovan Leka: Is the Serbian a legitimate prospect to watch at 265 pounds?
Currently riding a six fight winning streak, Jovan Leka (11-2) finally gets his chance at the big leagues in front of his countrymen after failing to earn a contract on the Contender Series, despite scoring the unanimous decision victory against an undefeated fellow prospect. That was only the second time that the 24 year old Serbian had reached the scorecards in his professional career, with Leka boasting seven wins by KO and four by submission. While he’s not the most athletic heavyweight, Leka stands 6’5” tall with an impressive 79’ reach. He’s primarily a grappler, bashing away at his opponents with GNP or utilizing an excellent arm triangle submission.
Alexander Poppeck: "Ironside" aims for a statement debut victory as a moderate underdog
Moving up in weight to make his UFC debut after Max Gimenis was bounced from the card, Alexander Poppeck (21-5, 1 NC) enters the promotion after an 8-1 run in Czech-Slovak promotion, Oktagon MMA. Eagled eyed fans may remember “Ironside’s” ill-fated audition on the Contender Series back in 2019, a bout that saw Poppeck finished by future light heavyweight UFC champion, Jamahal Hill. The German hasn’t dropped a stoppage loss since that fight and is a bona fide finisher in his own right, with fourteen of his twenty-one pro wins coming by way of stoppage. He’s a well-rounded threat, with effective striking and a punishing ground game.
Jovan Leka vs Alexander Poppeck prediction
While Leka enters this match up as a moderate favorite, this one isn’t as cut and dried as you might think.
There’s always reason to be excited about a young heavyweight prospect with solid grappling, but Leka has demonstrated some question marks in his career to date. As a natural heavyweight, he’s going to be the bigger man in there and could well wear Poppeck down, get him to the floor, and finish him from there. However, the concern is the fact that he has a history of being taken down by opponents who purportedly weren’t on his level.
That could spell trouble against Poppeck, considering that the German is an extremely capable wrestler. “Ironside” does occasionally shoot from distance, but he does his best work by grinding his opponents up against the cage and working for takedowns from there. Once he gets on top, he’s got suffocating control, landing hard shots and looking for openings to work submissions. He’s also more experienced and has fought much better opposition to date.
Leka’s size advantage could well carry him to victory here, but I feel an upset brewing; Poppeck is strongest in the areas where Leka likes to take the fight. I see the Serbian failing takedowns and “Ironside” reversing him, punishing him with GNP, and eventually earning the decision victory.
Prediction: Alexander Poppeck to win by decision
