Jovan Leka Record: 13-2-0

The Contender Series snub and the run that followed

Leka's road to the UFC was unusual. In October 2025 he won on Dana White's Contender Series, out-pointing the unbeaten Azamat Nuftillaev by unanimous decision over three rounds – but White, unimpressed by a grappling-led performance without a finish, passed on offering a contract and told the young Serbian to gain more experience. Leka took the message and went back to work, racking up finishes to force the issue. He stopped Charlie Milner with a first-round arm-triangle choke in February 2026, then capped his case with a second-round TKO of Danilo Suzart at ARMMADA 17 in April 2026, battering the Brazilian to the finish. The UFC signed him shortly after, reversing the earlier snub.

UFC debut

Leka is set to make his Octagon debut in August 2026 against Max Gimenis, a homecoming bout staged on the UFC's first-ever event in Serbia. Fighting in front of a home crowd in a heavyweight division thin on young, finishing prospects, Leka steps into the spotlight with a chance to validate the long campaign that earned him the contract.

Fighting style

Leka is a finisher built around a heavy, suffocating grappling game. An 85% finish rate – seven knockouts and four submissions across his 13 wins – tells the story of a fighter who looks to end nights rather than coast to the scorecards, even if his control-first wrestling once drew criticism for lacking flash. His arm-triangle choke has become a signature, accounting for multiple submission wins, and his size and top pressure let him smother opponents before transitioning to ground-and-pound. Both career losses have come by decision, suggesting his vulnerability lies in extended, high-level striking exchanges against fighters who can keep the fight standing and out-work him over five rounds.

Career highlights

• ARMMADA heavyweight champion — claimed the regional promotion's title and built his reputation as one of the Balkans' top heavyweight prospects.
• Earned a UFC deal after a Contender Series snub — won on Dana White's Contender Series, was passed over, then forced his way in with a run of finishes including a TKO of Danilo Suzart.
• 85% finish rate — seven KO/TKOs and four submissions across 13 wins make him one of the most finish-heavy young heavyweights to reach the UFC.