Croatian Fighter Ante Delija: A Journey of Pride and Power

A Path to the UFC

Ante Delija, a 35-year-old mixed martial artist, has finally made his mark in the UFC after years of hard work. His journey was not straightforward.

• 2020: Scheduled to fight Ciryl Gane, but plans fell through.
• 2022: Won the PFL Heavyweight Tournament title.
• September 6, 2025: UFC debut against Marcin Tybura—WON.
• Next Fight: UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama undercard.

Roots and Training

• Born: August 7, 1990, in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
• Ethnicity: South Slavic (rarely discussed publicly).
• Training:
• Started in Croatia with Gladiator Croatia.
• Joined Cro Cop Team under Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic.
• Developed a disciplined, measured fighting style.
• Pride in Heritage: Often enters with the Croatian flag.

Professional Record

• 26 Wins, 6 Losses (since 2011).
• Win Breakdown:
• 13 KOs/TKOs
• 6 Submissions
• 7 Decisions
• Notable Victories:
• Marcin Tybura
• Renan Ferreira
• Matheus Scheffel
• Biggest Achievement: 2022 PFL Heavyweight Championship (1st-round TKO vs. Scheffel).

UFC Debut and Future

• 2025: First UFC fight—beat Tybura.
• Next Challenge: Waldo Cortes-Acosta.
• If successful, bigger opportunities may follow.