From hotel worker to UFC heavyweight: the rise of Aleksandar Rakić
In short: Before entering the octagon, Aleksandar Rakić was working in a hotel to fund his training. The Serbian-born fighter, raised in Vienna, transitioned from a prolific kickboxing background to the UFC, eventually moving up to the heavyweight division after a career defined by high-stakes battles and technical precision.
Born on 6 February 1992 in Vienna, Austria, to a Serbian family, Aleksandar Rakić's path to professional mixed martial arts was anything but linear. His early athletic years were spent playing football, though his aggressive playstyle led to his expulsion from the team. At age 12, he pivoted to kickboxing and boxing, making his first competitive fight at just 14 years old. By the time he turned 20, he had already accumulated over 40 fights before deciding to take on the challenge of MMA.
Rakić began his professional MMA career in 2011, building an initial record of 8–1 on the European circuit before signing with the UFC in March 2017. His early UFC tenure was marked by significant victories, including a unanimous decision over Francimar Barroso in his debut on 2 September 2017. One of his most notable performances came on 1 June 2019 against Jimi Manuwa, where a first-minute head kick knockout earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus.
The fighter's career has faced significant hurdles, including injuries and high-profile losses. In 2022, a bout against Jan Błachowicz was rescheduled after Błachowicz withdrew, resulting in a loss for Rakić via technical knockout in the third round after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear during sparring three weeks prior. Following a nearly two-year layoff, Rakić moved up to the heavyweight division, securing a unanimous decision victory against Marcin Tybura on 1 August 2026.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Aleksandar Rakić
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-aleksandar-raki.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in US culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
