Uros Medic Makes Statement With First-Round Knockout of Geoff Neal

UFC Houston was a mixed bag of action – the prelims were boring, some of the officiating was questionable, and Sean Strickland simultaneously got just his second finish in six years – and stirred the controversy pot around him.

But if there’s one breakout fighter from the UFC Houston card, it has to go to the other performance bonus winner, Uros Medic, who knocked Geoff Neal out in quick and devastating fashion in the evening’s co-main event.

Medic was in control from the start, coming out of the gate with forward pressure while trying to back Neal up and dictate the fight early on. And all Medic needed was 79 seconds to connect with a left hand that dropped Neal, head smacking on the mat, out cold.

Taking on Neal, who was ranked No. 12 entering the fight, and winning in that devastating fashion makes this the most important win of Medic’s career so far. And he’s shown his growth since coming into the UFC off a 2020 win on Dana White’s Contender Series.

Medic originally dropped to lightweight to start his UFC run, and, as noted on the broadcast, in retrospect, it’s amazing how the 6’1” Serbian was able to drop to and compete at 155.

He moved up to welterweight in 2023, and while his run there started just 2-2, he’s now won three straight. And this is now three straight victories in the first round, following up on finishes of Gilbert Urbina and Muslik Salikhov in 2025.

The certainty of Medic’s success in the welterweight division isn’t too certain. While Medic’s stock is on the rise, Neal’s has been falling. This is now Neal’s fourth loss in his last five fights and his sixth loss in his last nine. It’s also his second straight fight losing via a harsh-looking, first-round knockout; this was his first fight since the knockout he suffered at the hands of Carlos Prates at UFC 319. Neal’s time in the rankings is certainly done, and now he might be fighting for his UFC future.

But the highlight knockout and the post-fight bonus money wasn’t all.

If a fighter is looking to make a statement with a post-fight promo, but not go over the top, Medic nailed the kind of verbiage you can look for. Making a “Houston we have a problem” reference and referring to himself as the problem of the welterweight division was perfect. Additionally, his callout of former welterweight champion Leon Edwards was bold, but a solid play with the momentum he’s got.

Medic even used his time to appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump – not about competing on the UFC White House card, but to ask for his assistance in trying to get home to Serbia.

And guess what? It worked. Backstage, Medic got to speak to President Trump, who helped to ensure Medic could return to his family in Serbia without restriction, eliminating travel difficulties.

To get the biggest win of your career, a spectacular highlight knockout, cut a solid post-fight promo, get $100,000 extra with a bonus, rub elbows (over the phone) with the U.S. President, and the President helps you back home to your family?

Yeah, that’s got to be one of the best nights of Medic’s life. Hats off to “The Doctor” and bright hopes for his next UFC outing.