What Happened to Duško Todorović?
Serbian mixed martial artist Duško Todorović, known as "Thunder," competes in the UFC Middleweight division. After an undefeated start to his professional career, he faced challenges in the UFC, including injuries and a losing skid, but recently secured a submission victory in September 2025. As of August 1, 2026, he is scheduled to fight Robert Valentin in the UFC's inaugural event in his home country of Serbia.
Quick Answer
Duško Todorović is a Serbian UFC Middleweight fighter with a professional record of 13-6-0. After overcoming a series of losses and injuries, including a serious knee injury in 2023, he secured a crucial submission win in September 2025. As of August 1, 2026, he is scheduled to fight Robert Valentin on the main card of UFC Fight Night 283 in Belgrade, Serbia, marking a significant moment as the UFC's first event in his home country. He also recently switched training camps to improve his preparation and focus.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Born in Kotor, Montenegro
Duško Todorović was born in Kotor, Montenegro, then part of Yugoslavia.
Professional MMA Debut
Todorović made his professional mixed martial arts debut, primarily competing in the Serbian Battle Championship.
Defeats Michel Pereira
He secured a significant first-round TKO victory over future UFC welterweight Michel Pereira, maintaining his undefeated record.
Earns UFC Contract on DWCS
Todorović won his fight on Dana White's Contender Series, securing a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
UFC Debut and Performance of the Night
He made his UFC debut against Dequan Townsend, winning via second-round TKO and earning a Performance of the Night bonus.
First Professional Loss
Todorović suffered his first professional loss, a TKO against Punahele Soriano at UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar.
Knee Injury Against Christian Leroy Duncan
He lost to Christian Leroy Duncan at UFC 286 via TKO after a knee injury rendered him unable to continue in the first round.
Withdraws from Shahbazyan Fight Due to Knee Injury
Todorović pulled out of a scheduled fight against Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC on ESPN 53 due to a serious knee injury.
Snaps Losing Skid with Submission Win
He defeated José Medina via rear-naked choke submission in the first round at UFC Fight Night 259, ending a three-fight losing streak.
Withdraws from Donte Johnson Fight
Todorović was scheduled to face Donte Johnson at UFC 326 but withdrew for undisclosed reasons.
Announces Training Camp Switch
In an interview, Todorović discussed leaving his previous 'chaotic' team environment and joining a new training setup for improved focus.
Scheduled to Fight Robert Valentin at UFC Belgrade
Todorović is scheduled to face Robert Valentin on the main card of UFC Fight Night 283 in Belgrade, Serbia, marking the UFC's first event in his home country.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Duško Todorović, born May 19, 1994, in Kotor, Montenegro, embarked on his mixed martial arts journey at a young age, starting with taekwondo around eight and later incorporating wrestling and grappling. He turned professional in 2015, primarily competing under the Serbian Battle Championship banner, where he amassed an impressive undefeated record of 10-0, including a notable TKO victory over future UFC welterweight Michel Pereira.
His undefeated streak earned him a spot on Dana White's Contender Series in 2019, where he secured a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Todorović made his highly anticipated UFC debut on October 4, 2020, defeating Dequan Townsend via technical knockout and earning a Performance of the Night bonus. However, his UFC tenure proved to be a tougher challenge than his early career, as he experienced his first professional loss in January 2021 against Punahele Soriano.
Todorović's UFC career has been marked by a series of ups and downs, including significant injuries. A serious knee injury in March 2023 during his fight against Christian Leroy Duncan led to a TKO loss and subsequently forced him to withdraw from a scheduled bout in March 2024. This period saw him endure a three-fight losing skid between 2023 and 2025, raising questions about his future in the promotion. However, he demonstrated resilience, bouncing back with a first-round rear-naked choke submission victory over José Medina on September 13, 2025, which snapped his losing streak and earned him a new four-fight UFC contract.
In the lead-up to his next fight, Todorović made a significant change, switching training camps from Secutor gym to Car Dušan Silni under head coach Nemanja Milošević, citing a need for a more structured and less 'chaotic' environment. This move, discussed in June 2026, was aimed at improving his focus and preparation. As of August 1, 2026, Duško Todorović is scheduled to face Robert Valentin at UFC Fight Night 283 in Belgrade, Serbia. This event holds immense significance as it marks the UFC's inaugural card in Serbia, allowing Todorović to compete on home soil on the main card, an opportunity he views as a new chapter in his career.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Duško Todorović made different choices?