Rakic Reveals Why He Left Light Heavyweight
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Aleksandar Rakic is leaving heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight behind after two decades of weight cuts took their toll on his body.
The Austrian fighter moves up to heavyweight this weekend when he faces Marcin Tybura at UFC Belgrade on August 1, according to MMA Mania. Rakic told UFC.com that doctors advised him the severe cuts were no longer sustainable if he wanted a life after fighting.
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Why Rakic Finally Made The Heavyweight Jump
Rakic had been shedding 38 to 39 pounds to reach the 205-pound limit, a process that required two months of recovery after each bout. "I've been cutting weight already for 20 years," he said, per the report. "The body remembers that, and after every weight cut, I need another two months to recover from the weight cut."
The 34-year-old stands six-foot-four and acknowledged he was always undersized for the division. Moving to heavyweight should eliminate the drain and let him fight more frequently. Rakic competed just once in 2025 and says he wants to increase his activity now that his body can recover faster between camps.
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Tybura represents a tough test for Rakic's heavyweight debut. The 39-year-old Polish veteran has been a durable spoiler in the division for years. Rakic rides a four-fight skid into the bout but told media at UFC Belgrade that he plans to turn around quickly if he wins, potentially fighting again as soon as October in Abu Dhabi.
Original reporting:
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