Meridianbet joins UFC Belgrade card featuring Navajo Stirling and Nina Milosevic

PARTNER CONTENT

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The UFC’s first event in Serbia will carry a strong Australasian storyline this weekend, with Sydney-based bantamweight Nina Milosevic and unbeaten New Zealand light heavyweight Navajo Stirling both preparing to compete at Belgrade Arena.

Stirling will face former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz in the co-main event after accepting the fight on short notice. Milosevic will meet Hailey Cowan in her UFC debut, returning to Serbia after building much of her professional career while based in Australia.

Australian MMA previously spoke with Milosevic about her journey from Serbia and Sweden to pursuing the UFC from Sydney, while Stirling joined the platform before his recent fight against Ion Cutelaba.

With attention now turning towards the historic event, Meridianbet has been announced as the presenting partner of UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez.

The agreement will give Meridianbet branding inside the Octagon, placement across official event marketing and round cards, an in-venue commercial and exposure through the UFC’s digital and social channels.

Meridianbet will also serve as the event’s exclusive sponsor within the sports-betting category.

“Serbia is where Meridianbet’s story began 25 years ago, and there is no bigger stage to mark that anniversary than UFC’s first-ever event in the country,” Meridian Holdings chief executive William Scott said.

“Combat sports sponsorship has long been part of our brand strategy, and partnering with one of the most-watched properties in global sports is a natural next step as we continue to build visibility for our firm across the region and the world.”

Founded in Serbia in 2001, Meridianbet operates as the business-to-consumer division of Meridian Holdings, a Nasdaq-listed company trading under the ticker symbol MRDN. The company said the UFC agreement represented its most visible association with a global sporting property to date.

Meridian Holdings operates across more than 25 regulated international markets, with its broader portfolio including gaming technology businesses Expanse Studios and GMAG, alongside Australian membership and trade-promotion company Classics for a Cause.

The company said it had previously supported professional combat-sports events, grassroots martial arts programs, sporting clubs and youth academies across its operating markets.

UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez takes place on Saturday, August 1, at Belgrade Arena, with the event falling on Sunday morning for Australian viewers.

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