From Student Jobs to Ultimate Fighting Summit and Call from Donald Trump: MMA Fighter Uros Medic for Newsmax Balkans

He came to the United States as a student through the Work and Travel program, taking student jobs while dreaming of one day becoming a professional fighter.

In an interview with Newsmax Balkans, Medic says that even then he had a clear goal – to one day make a living from fighting.

"I had a goal and I was striving for something better. The jobs I did were not that important to me, because I knew they were just a way to get to what I wanted – to become a professional fighter", Medic says, adding that he worked various jobs while hoping for greater success.

A Path Without Security or Connections

His beginnings in the United States were not easy. He was far from his family, without contacts or security.

"I was attending college in Serbia, just a normal guy – my family loves me, my friends love me. Then you come to the other side of the world, working some meaningless jobs, nobody knows you, nobody respects you. At one point I asked myself what I was actually doing here", the MMA fighter recalls.

However, the dream proved stronger than self-doubt.

"I knew that even if I didn’t succeed, I could always go back home. My family and friends would be there waiting for me. I had nothing to lose, so I gave everything I had to succeed", the professional fighter adds.

Today, he says, he sees that the effort paid off, as evidenced by the fact that he is now among the best fighters in the world in his division.

Family as the Foundation of Success

He does not hide the fact that his family played a crucial role in his success.

"Family is the greatest support. We are very close and we all stick together", the Newsmax Balkans interviewee emphasized.

Ahead of his last fight, his parents even spent a month with him in the United States to help him prepare.

"They cooked my meals and took care of everything, while I just trained and rested. I could be like a kid at home – they cook, I eat, and go to training. That gave me enormous energy", Medic emphasizes.

The Serbian Flag in the Octagon

Although he has lived in the United States for 11 years, Medic says he has never forgotten where he comes from. He always enters the octagon carrying the Serbian flag.

"I’ve lived here for a long time and people know me; they have accepted me as one of their own. I respect their culture and they respect mine, but Serbia is my country, and it is always a special honor when I step into a fight with our flag", Medic proudly adds.

The accomplished fighter also points out that he feels at home in America and has friends who love and support him, describing them as a second family.

UFC in Belgrade: A Dream That Would Complete the Story

One of the major topics in the MMA world is the possibility that the Ultimate Fighting Championship could organize an event in Belgrade. For Medic, that would be a special moment.

"That would be one of the greatest things that has ever happened in my life. To leave Serbia as someone just starting out, and then return as a UFC fighter and perform in front of a home crowd – that would be a story worthy of a movie", he says, adding with a laugh:

“What are the odds that someone leaves as an ordinary guy, becomes a professional fighter, and then comes back home and wins in front of his own people?”

A Phone Call with Donald Trump

One of the more interesting episodes in his career happened after one of his fights, when he received a call he did not expect.

"I was at the doctor’s office after the fight when someone from the PR team came to get me and said that Dana White wanted to see me. I thought they just wanted to congratulate me. When I entered the office, they turned on the speakerphone and said: ‘Mr. President, he’s here", Medic recounts enthusiastically.

"On the other end of the line was Donald Trump himself", the fighter recalls.

He says Trump congratulated him and told him that he was a serious fighter with an incredible punch. The conversation lasted a few minutes, and Medic also told Trump that many people in Serbia respect him.

An Evening with Novak Djokovic and Bogdan Bogdanovic

The Serbian fighter recently had the opportunity to spend an evening with some of Serbia’s greatest athletes.

"Basketball star Bogdan Bogdanovic invited me to a dinner where Novak Djokovic was also present. We talked about sports, about Serbia, and about the UFC coming to Belgrade", Medic says.

Foto: Uroš Medić

A Lesson for Young Athletes

At the end of the conversation with Newsmax Balkans, Medic emphasizes that the most important lesson he has learned during his career is very simple.

"Always do the right thing. Be honest, believe in God, and stay on the right path. If you don’t cheat and you don’t lie, you don’t have to remember what you said or what you did", Medic says, adding that in that way everything eventually falls into place.

Today, his story serves as proof to many young athletes that it is possible to start from nothing and reach the very top through hard work, patience, and the support of family.

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