Serbia’s first female UFC fighter arrives on Saturday night, as hometown bantamweight Nina Milosevic makes her promotional debut against Hailey Cowan at UFC Fight Night: Medic vs. Rodriguez in Belgrade.
Milosevic (8–1, 0–0 UFC) arrives on an eight-fight winning streak, punctuated by a unanimous decision win over Dina Osman under the Brave CF banner in February. Cowan (7–5, 0–3 UFC) is still eyeing her first Octagon win after getting starched by Alice Pereira in the second round of their April clash.
Milosevic enters as a heavy -500 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Cowan is a +380 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Milosevic vs. Cowan Preview
Nina Milosevic
- 8–1 (0–0 UFC)
- 3–0 (T)KO
- 2–0 SUB
Nina Milosevic made history as the first female fighter from Serbia to sign with the UFC. And on Saturday, she’ll be looking to make an emphatic first impression in her backyard.
“Queen Beast,” 29, is a two-time IMAAF world champion with a black belt in karate — employing constant forward pressure to set up overhead haymakers. She complements her striking with an opportunistic grappling game, able to finish a fight on the feet or on the mat. While her power has yet to be tested in MMA’s flagship promotion, it’s worth noting that three of her last five wins have come by first-round knockout. Milosevic will be eager to showcase that well-rounded attack in her first trip to the Octagon.
Hailey Cowan
- 7–5 (0–3 UFC)
- 2–1 (T)KO
- 2–3 SUB
Three years into her UFC career, Hailey Cowan is still looking for her first Octagon win. The Texas native, 34, has gone 0-for-3 in the promotion, with her losses coming by decision, submission, and knockout. In her last trip to the cage earlier this year, “All Hail” got put to sleep by a thudding knee from Alice Pereira.
Cowan will enter Saturday with a three-inch height advantage and an edge in the grappling department. Even so, she has recorded fewer submission wins than she has tap-out losses. Unless she handles business against the hometown favorite, Cowan’s time in the UFC could be drawing to a close.
Milosevic vs. Cowan Pick, Best Bet
Nina Milosevic appears primed for a successful UFC debut, taking on a beleaguered veteran who has gotten stopped in back-to-back bouts. With superior striking and opportunistic grappling, she should survive Hailey Cowan’s attempts to take things to the ground while outclassing her on the feet. Considering that four of Cowan’s five pro losses have come inside the distance, there’s solid value in backing “Queen Beast” to feed off the home-crowd energy and score a stoppage Saturday night in Belgrade.
