“Rocket” is finally moving on up.
After 20 professional fights — including 11 inside the Octagon — Rakic is making the move to Heavyweight. And while it can certainly be viewed as a career refresh because the 34-year-old is riding a four-fight losing streak, the longest skid of his career, the move is actually about more than just wins and losses.
It is also about his long-term health.
“I’ve been cutting weight already for 20 years,” Rakic told UFC.com. “I was cutting one, two kilos. Year by year, I’m growing, becoming heavier. The last cuts were 38, 39 pounds in total. I’m pretty good at cutting weight, but still, the body remembers that, and after every weight cut, I need another two months to recover from the weight cut.
“I worked with the doctors, and they told me, ‘It’s not the healthiest cutting weight anymore because you want to have a life after the career,’” Rakic continued. “And let’s be honest: I am not a small guy.”
Rakic has always been a massive Light Heavyweight, standing 6-foot-4 and cutting a huge amount of weight to make 205 pounds. At Heavyweight, he should no longer have to drain himself before fight night, which could allow him to perform — and recover — much better.
That is the other major reason behind the move.
Since making his UFC debut, Rakic has generally fought around twice per year, but he wants to increase that pace. Two years of his prime were already taken away because of a nasty knee injury, and in 2025, he only competed once.
At Heavyweight, Rakic believes he can turn around much faster.
“In the Light Heavyweight division, my body needed a really long time to recover from the weight cut, so I couldn’t take a fight immediately after or a short-notice fight because I needed to prepare my body,” Rakic said during UFC Belgrade media day. “Now at Heavyweight, I can fight much more often, and I want to be much more active. I plan to [turn around quickly after this weekend].”
Of course, Tybura is not exactly a soft landing.
The 39-year-old veteran has been a durable Heavyweight spoiler for years and is exactly the kind of test that will show whether Rakic can immediately make noise in the division.
Still, the timing makes sense.
Rakic needed a change, Heavyweight needed fresh names, and UFC Belgrade gives him the perfect stage to start over in front of a friendly crowd.
If Rakic wins this weekend, do not be surprised if UFC tries to turn him around quickly for its numbered event in Abu Dhabi this October.
To checkout the latest and greatest UFC Belgrade: “Medic vs. Rodriguez” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
