Sports
UFC Belgrade Picks: Best Bets for UFC’s First Event in Serbia
It’s time for another international UFC Fight Night event, and for the first time in history, the Octagon touches down in Serbia with UFC Belgrade.
The main event will feature rising welterweight Uros Medic, a Serbian native, taking on Daniel Rodriguez.
Medic is 7-3 in the UFC and has won three straight and four of his last five fights – with all five ending via first-round KO/TKO. In fact, in his current win streak, all finishes have come in under 90 seconds. Rodriguez has also won his last three fights, most recently scoring a decision over Kevin Holland at UFC 318 last year.
The co-main event will feature former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in action against Navajo Stirling. Blachowicz is 0-2-2 in his last four, most recently battling Bogdan Guskov to a draw at UFC 323. Stirling is a perfect 10-0 in MMA, including a 5-0 UFC record since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. He most recently fought at UFC Vegas 119 in June, finishing Ion Cutelaba.
The rest of the main card will include Aleksandar Rakic vs. Marcin Tybura, Dusko Todorovic vs. Robert Valentin, Vlasto Cepo vs. Gilbert Urbina, and Milos Janicic vs. Noah Gugnon.
UROS MEDIC VS DANIEL RODRIGUEZ
This fight is what we call a striker’s paradise. The UFC is looking to make a solid first impression in the country for its inaugural Serbian event. They’re doing that by putting a rising name like Medic, a hometown hero with a knack for fast starts and finishing, against a talented, ranked fighter in D-Rod, who has great, crisp boxing of his own.
Medic is going to look to push the pace early, potentially blitzing D-Rod, and try to pressure him into a mistake. As mentioned, however, Rodriguez has great jabs and counter-striking. If Medic goes in too quick and wild, there’s the potential D-Rod catches him with something. And the longer the fight goes, the more his punching volume can give problems.
D-Rod has a solid chin, but Medic has a lot of momentum.
BET: Medic to win via KO/TKO in Rounds 1 or 2 (FanDuel: -150)
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
JAN BLACHOWICZ VS NAVAJO STIRLING
Blachowicz is still ranked at light heavyweight and has the championship experience. At 43 and having not won in four straight fights, however, he desperately needs a win to maintain any relevancy. With Stirling at 10-0 and looking to elevate himself more in a division that needs new stars, this feels like a matchup designed to give an up-and-comer a win over a noteworthy name on their resume.
Stirling will match up well against Blachowicz in terms of size. For Blachowicz, success might come down to making this a dirty-boxing style matchup where he closes distance and gets inside to do damage. And you never know just when the Polish power might come out. The speed, volume, range management, and kickboxing of Stirling, however, will present a challenge for the elder veteran fighter.
It comes down to who can make it their kind of fight.
BET: Stirling via decision (FanDuel: +105)
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
DUSKO TODOROVIC VS ROBERT VALENTIN
Though in differing circumstances, both men here are coming in off a victory after enduring three-fight losing skids. Todorovic also suffered an injury in one of his fights. Valentin, meanwhile, fell short in his TUF finale fight with Ryan Loder and struggled in bouts with Torrez Finney and Ateba Gautier. Both need a win to keep newfound momentum going.
For Todorovic, this comes down to precision, pressure, and takedowns. Valentin can be especially dangerous on the feet, but Loder handled him well on the mat. It may be the place for best success. Valentin, meanwhile, will look to use his own pressure and power to force exchanges and try to draw Todorovic into making defensive lapses.
BET: Valentin to win via KO/TKO OR submission (DraftKings: -120)
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
Sports
Falcons, G Matthew Bergeron agree to 4-year extension
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron (65) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Atlanta Falcons and left guard Matthew Bergeron have agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2030 season.
The team announced the deal on Saturday but didn’t provide any financial terms. ESPN and NFL Network said the contract is worth $96 million, with $60 million fully guaranteed.
“Matthew is the type of player you build around,” Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said. “He’s establishing himself as one of the top young guards in the NFL, and his toughness, consistency and leadership have made him a cornerstone of our offensive line and the culture we’re building in Atlanta.
“Extending players like Matthew reflects our commitment to investing in the trenches and building a strong foundation for the future.”
Bergeron, 26, is a native of Montreal who played in college at Syracuse. The Falcons selected him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and Bergeron has played in 49 of 51 possible games — all starts.
With Bergeron teaming with left tackle Jake Matthews, the Falcons led the league in 2025 with 61 first downs from that side of the line. Matthews enters his 13th season as a starting offensive lineman for the team.
Bergeron told AtlantaFalcons.com that staying in Atlanta with the new contract “means the world” to him.
“I’m from Canada, and the second I got to Atlanta everybody welcomed me with open arms,” he said. “Atlanta is a special place for me and my family. And now, I have the resources to give back to a community that has given me so much and changed my life.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) to miss season
Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) stiff arms Tennessee Titans cornerback Marcus Harris (26) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall requires right knee surgery and will miss the 2026 season.
General manager John Lynch confirmed on Saturday that Pearsall needs a procedure to repair a torn PCL.
Pearsall, a 2024 first-round pick, experienced pain and swelling in his knee earlier this week at training camp. He initially sustained the injury in Week 4 last season and wound up appearing in only nine games.
Through his first two seasons, Pearsall has recorded 67 catches for 928 yards and three scores in 20 contests.
The 49ers placed Pearsall, 25, on injured reserve Saturday and also confirmed the signing of wideout Deebo Samuel. Terms were not disclosed but reports earlier in the week said Samuel returns on a one-year deal for $7 million. Samuel will replace Pearsall of the 49ers’ roster.
Samuel, 30, caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five TDs in 16 games last season with the Washington Commanders.
Samuel played for San Francisco from 2019-24, posting 334 receptions for 4,792 yards and 22 TDs in 81 games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Steelers signing veteran S Rayshawn Jenkins
Oct 19, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) reacts after intercepting a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran safety Rayshawn Jenkins, multiple outlets reported on Saturday.
Jenkins, 32, recorded 45 tackles and one interception in 17 games (three starts) last season with Cleveland.
He has 562 tackles, 11 interceptions and four forced fumbles in 139 games (92 starts) with the Los Angeles Chargers (2017-20), Jacksonville Jaguars (2021-23), Seattle Seahawks (2024) and Browns.
Jenkins, a fourth-round draft pick by the Chargers in 2017, has scored two defensive touchdowns: a pick-six in 2022 and a 102-yard fumble return in 2024.
Jenkins provides depth in the secondary behind starting safeties DeShon Elliott and Jaquan Brisker, along with fellow veteran newcomer Darnell Savage.
–Field Level Media
