Champions Crowned in Belgrade

The dust has settled on Belgrade Arena, and the landscape of Fight Nation Championship has shifted dramatically. Two belts changed hands under the bright lights. Kamil Kraska defeated Ivica Trušček to claim the welterweight title, proving his dominance in the region. In the middleweight division, Jani Barbir secured victory via armbar against Aleksandar Ilić, adding another championship to the roster.

Erslan Returns to Contender Status

But the biggest story isn't just who won—it's who came back. Ivan Erslan, the Croatian powerhouse, has re-entered the FNC rankings. After a stint in the UFC where he fought four times with only one victory, Erslan is returning to his roots. He has landed directly at number two in the light heavyweight division, sitting just behind former champion Matej Batinić. The current belt holder is Slovenian Jakob Nedoh. Erslan is set to challenge Nedoh for the title at Arena Zagreb on September 12. The card will also feature Francis Barri and the Sičaj brothers, Ivan and Tomislav.

Rankings Shake Up Across Divisions

Other fighters have also moved up the ladder. Igor Cavalcanti, the Brazilian welterweight, defeated Marek Jakimowicz via first-round TKO. His performance propelled him past Simon Karslidis to become the number two contender, trailing only Jovan Marjanović. In the light heavyweight division, Valeriy Atanasov moved up after beating Tomislav Spahić in Belgrade. Tiriel Luka Abramović also climbed to seventh without fighting.

Marko Bojković, despite competing in a 73kg catchweight bout, earned a ranking boost in the lightweight division. His dominant win over Piotr Niedzielski in Belgrade places him as the third contender behind champion Lom Ali Eskiev. The stage is set for September in Zagreb, where Erslan aims to reclaim glory.