Miloš Janičić: From Local Legend to UFC Debut in Belgrade — The Complete Story

TL;DR: Serbian/Montenegrin MMA star Miloš Janičić is making his UFC debut on August 1st at Belgrade Arena against France’s Noa Gunn. This exclusive interview covers his journey — from a career-threatening knee injury and Dirty Boxing wars to training in Thailand, viral walkout songs, and why he refuses "freak fights."

The Big News: UFC Comes to Belgrade

• Date: August 1st
• Venue: Belgrade Arena
• Main Event: 14 fights total (huge card!)
• Miloš’s Fight: Debut vs. Noa Gunn (France)
• Backstory: Deal brokered between MMA Federation of Serbia president Luka Nikolčić and UFC owner Dana White

Why This Matters: This is the first UFC event in Serbia — and Miloš gets to debut in front of his home crowd.

Training with a Basketball Star? Yep.

Q: We saw you training with former Red Star player Kodi Miler-McIntyre. Random or planned?

Miloš:

"We train at Filip Volšek’s gym — he handles rehab for both of us. Kodi had a minor ligament issue, so we did rehab together almost daily. Great guy, elite athlete. Loved training with him."

Other Sports? "Only Combat Sports."

Q: Do you follow basketball, football, other sports?

Miloš:

"Honestly? I barely follow anything else. A little football and basketball here and there, but it’s not the same. Only combat sports hold my attention."

The Knee Surgery: "Hardest & Best Moment of My Life"

Q: You’ve called your knee surgery your toughest round. How did you mentally survive when everyone wrote you off?

Miloš:

"You just deal with whatever comes, in the moment. The surgery was the hardest AND best moment of my life — because everyone wrote me off. Close friends, people around me… I was alone, couldn’t walk.

But that low point led to my fight with Bojković — he only took the fight because I had no knee. He tried to exploit me, and he regretted it for the rest of his life. That struggle made me who I am."

Key Takeaway: Rock bottom became the foundation for his biggest comeback.

Dirty Boxing vs. MMA: "Prep Is Easier, Fighting Is Brutal"

Q: You won 3 fights in Dirty Boxing before UFC. How does it compare to MMA?

Miloš:

"Prep is simpler. But the fight? Savagery. Non-stop head trauma in a phone booth."

44-Second Knockout: "Best Feeling — But I Tore Something"

Q: Last fight vs. Taylor Barry — 44 seconds, done. How’d it feel?

Miloš:

"Always the best. A knockout is the ultimate high. If you haven’t scored one, you don’t know the feeling.

This time though — I felt a tear/rupture during the finish. He was already out, so I rushed to get an MRI immediately. Happy I finished it fast, but paid a price."

Jon Jones: Met Him, Didn’t Talk

Q: You met Jon Jones in Germany at Dirty Boxing events. Did he know who you were? Any contact now?

Miloš:

"Jon was at all 3 Dirty Boxing events — he’s a face of the promotion. But I doubt he knows me personally. He’s got a million people pulling at him. I’m not gonna bother him. We didn’t speak then, no contact now. Just mutual respect from afar."

Did Dana White Call You Personally?

Q: Did Dana White ring you up?

Miloš:

"Not personally — but UFC matchmakers were at my fight, in direct talks with my managers. Everything was crystal clear."

Fighting at Home: "Dream Come True"

Q: You represent both Montenegro and Serbia. What does debuting in Belgrade Arena mean?

Miloš:

"Best-case scenario. Third time in the Arena, Diesel Power blasting, our crowd… It’s a dream realized."

Crowd Flips: From Boos to Cheers

Q: In 2018 vs. Marko Radaković in Novi Sad, the crowd was against you. Now you’re a fan favorite. Thoughts?

Miloš:

"Crowds flip everywhere — not just here. In MMA they say: ‘You’re only as good as your last fight.’ True. People change sides fast.

But honestly? Never bothered me — not vs. Marko, not vs. Bojković. Now I just have to keep proving I represent Serbia and Montenegro right."

The Flag Situation: "I Carry Montenegro’s True Flag"

Q: You’ve had flag controversies. What’s your stance on UFC’s flag policies?

Miloš:

"I’ve always carried Montenegro’s tricolor — the historic flag of the Kingdom of Montenegro, used for 100+ years, including when we were united with Serbia. The ‘new’ red flag? Not mine.

UFC banned flags for 2–3 years (politics/Russia sanctions), but brought it back last year. We must represent our countries!"

"Diesel Power" — The Anthem That Found Him

Q: The song ‘Diesel Power’ blew up because of your walkouts. Do you pick songs for luck?

Miloš:

"Back in 2018 vs. Radaković — biggest local fight ever — I used ‘Diesel Power’ in a YouTube hype video. Now it’s Part 2, way more viral.

The song’s been my walkout for 8 years. Not superstition — just my song. The crowd owns it now too."

Hussein Kadimagomaev Called You Out — You Lived Together?!

Q: Hussein challenged you on social media. You know him?

Miloš:

"We lived together! In the UFC Gym athlete house (3rd floor, Ivan Dijaković’s place) — 5–6 fighters under one roof. Trained together for ages. Good kid.

He’s calling me out for clout/UFC entry — smart move. But UFC decides, not me. If they sign him, cool. If not, we wave goodbye."

Doping/USADA: "I Was ‘On’ Most of My Career — Now Clean 5 Months"

Q: Vaso Bakočević said old doping rules blocked him from pre-UFC events. Your experience?

Miloš:

"I’ll be honest — most of my 20+ fights, I was enhanced. Early career (Prodanović, Nehučić, two Oktagon fights) — yes.

But last 5 months? Completely clean. Only thing now is doctor-prescribed meds for injury recovery (therapeutic use). No USADA issues expected."

Important: This is rare honesty in combat sports. Miloš owns his past and confirms current compliance.

Boxers & "Freak Fighters" Challenging You: "Stay in Your Lane"

Q: Boxers, influencers, local fighters all call you out. Why?

Miloš:

"MMA is the king of all disciplines. Boxing, kickboxing — those are partial fights. You don’t challenge the guy in the complete sport, especially one more accomplished than you.

They want ‘bread from my cake’ — clout, money. Stay local, fight for pennies, pretend you’re a fighter. I’m in the UFC now. We can say hi from here."

Freak Fights: "For the Right Money, Everyone Would — But It Hurts the Sport"

Q: Darko Stošić said he’d never do freak fights. Your take?

Miloš:

"For good money? Everyone would. Easy fight, big payday.

But I don’t support it — makes a circus of the sport. Plus, everyone today has a complex — wants to be a ‘fighter’ without doing the work. You had years to become one. You didn’t. Don’t cosplay now and share a sentence with real fighters.

I’m glad I’m in the UFC — hope I never have to do that circus."

Would You Ever Do a Freak Fight?

Q: Any scenario where you say yes?

Miloš:

"Only if UFC didn’t happen. I already beat that influencer guy (context: past altercation) ‘on God’s court’ — everyone saw it. Cowards always have excuses. Before the fight: one story. After: ‘Oh it wasn’t me, I was this, that…’ People laugh at him.

He wants a rematch in a year after getting destroyed? Delusional. In a rematch he’d get hurt worse. He’ll remember me forever."

Stefan Nehučić: "10 Steps Backward"

Q: What about a fight with Stefan Nehučić? He beat you in 2016.

Miloš:

"10 steps backward. He’s 1–3 in his last 4, fights at a higher weight… He knows he’ll never reach the UFC. That’s sad — to know in your prime you’ll never make it.

Maybe fate crosses us again, but easy fight for me."

2016 Loss: "I Was in 8th Grade — Time Told the Truth"

Q: He beat you in 2016. Where are you both now?

Miloš:

"I was in 8th grade. Took the fight on short notice, up a weight class, ref stopped it early — but no excuses. Time showed who’s who.

He stagnated, fights locally. I’m chasing the world top. When he calls me out? That tells you everything. I go global. He stays local forever."

YouTube & Vlogs: "Riding the Wave"

Q: Your ‘Behind the Scenes’ vlog got huge views. Strategy?

Miloš:

"Big following on IG/TikTok. Stories get massive views. Started YouTube to capture the hype while it’s hot — expand the audience. Not fully dedicated yet, but love the response."

Thailand Camps: "10× the Level — Plus Sunshine & Cheap Living"

Q: Why Thailand so often? What’s there that’s not here?

Miloš:

"Night and day. People here think they know better without ever leaving the Balkans. Results speak. Thailand (and USA) = different planet."

Training Partners in Serbia: "Spread Across Gyms"

• Nemanja Milošević (CDS Novi Sad) — loyal base, judo/BJJ specialist, used late-camp for grappling specifics
• Kalist Boxing Club — striking focus
• CDS Belgrade (Viline Vode, Mega Gym) — sparring, MMA integration
• Adjusts based on injuries/needs

Note: Miloš doesn’t pledge exclusive loyalty to one gym — he goes where the work gets done.

Why Do Serbian Fighters Switch Teams Constantly?

Q: Fighters hop gyms, burn bridges. Why?

Miloš:

"Nehučić is the poster child: CDS Belgrade → Achilles (tattooed CDS logo, covered it up) → Fight Company (for clout) → back to Achilles/Bojković (for more clout). That’s his career in a nutshell — chasing exposure.

I’ve always been transparent — no fake loyalty. Only gym I’m truly tied to: CDS Novi Sad (Nemanja). Rest? I rotate. Fighters here chase utility over loyalty."

Training with Aleksandar Rakić & Duško Todorović

Q: You’ve trained with UFC vets Rakić & Todorović at CDS. What’d you learn?

Miloš:

"Different weight classes — they’re not my sparring partners. But watching Rakić in Thailand this winter? Next-level discipline. Dude grinds non-stop. Motivation through the roof. Seeing that standard? Priceless."

Career Goal: "First & Only Montenegrin in UFC — Then Top 15, Top 10…"

Q: What’s the crown jewel of your career?

Miloš:

"Since age 15, watching UFC — my dream: BE a UFC fighter.

Now I’m making history: FIRST & ONLY Montenegrin in UFC. Ever. That’s the peak for now.

After: Crack Top 15 → Top 10 → keep climbing. But first — sign the dotted line, walk out in Belgrade."

Post-Fighting Life: "Business, Gym, Later"

Q: Plans after fighting?

Miloš:

"Too far to see clearly. Some business, maybe a gym. But that’s for later. Right now — UFC."

Summary: The Miloš Janičić Story So Far

FAQ: 5 Questions You Might Still Have

1. Who is Noa Gunn (his opponent)?

A French prospect — UFC matchmakers picked him for Miloš’s debut. Styles make fights; expect a striking-heavy matchup.

2. What weight class?

Likely Light Heavyweight (205 lbs / 93 kg) — Miloš has fought there in Dirty Boxing and regional MMA.

3. Can I watch the event live?

Yes! UFC Fight Pass / ESPN+ (region-dependent). Tickets for Belgrade Arena sold fast — check official UFC channels.

4. Is "Diesel Power" his official walkout song for UFC?

Almost certainly — it’s his trademark, the crowd knows it, and UFC usually respects fighter walkout music.

5. Does he still train with Nemanja Milošević?

Yes — CDS Novi Sad remains his loyal base, especially for grappling/BJJ in late camp. But striking happens at Kalist/CDS Belgrade.

Final Word from Miloš

"I’m making history for Montenegro. First and only. August 1st. Belgrade Arena. Diesel Power. Be there."

Article compiled from exclusive Sportal interview. All quotes translated and preserved for accuracy. Miloš Janičić — UFC Belgrade, August 1st.