Who Is Borislav Nikolić? Meet ‘Zombee,’ the Serbian Finisher Who Became a UFC Fighter

After becoming a BRAVE CF bantamweight champion, Nikolić signed with the UFC and made his debut in his home country of Serbia.

He won.

As of August 2026, Borislav Nikolić holds a professional MMA record of 17-2 and is riding a seven-fight winning streak.

Borislav Nikolić Fighter Information

Who Is Borislav Nikolić?

Borislav “Zombee” Nikolić is a Serbian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC bantamweight division.

Before joining the UFC, he spent years building experience across the European and international MMA scene.

His career included fights in Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Austria and several other countries before BRAVE CF became a major part of his rise.

Over time, Nikolić became known as a fighter who rarely needed the judges.

Out of his 17 professional wins, 15 have come by knockout or submission.

That finishing ability helped turn him into a BRAVE champion and, eventually, a UFC fighter.

Where Is Borislav Nikolić From?

Borislav Nikolić was born in Vršac, Serbia.

He started his combat sports career there before later moving through different gyms and training environments.

Nikolić has spoken about beginning in Vršac and spending several years with Titan Fight Team before moving to Belgrade for school and better training opportunities.

That move became an important step.

Instead of remaining in one place, Nikolić continued looking for training rooms where he believed he could improve.

Eventually, that journey helped shape the fighter who went on to compete internationally.

How Did Borislav Nikolić Start MMA?

Nikolić began fighting long before the UFC became a realistic goal.

He has said he started competing around 2012, although his training began earlier.

His first years were spent learning in Serbia and building experience through amateur and regional fights.

At one point, Nikolić recalled having around 10 amateur bouts before fully moving into the professional ranks.

Most of those fights ended before the final bell.

That early pattern continued throughout his professional career.

Instead of becoming a fighter who relied on close decisions, Nikolić developed a habit of chasing finishes.

What Is Borislav Nikolić Known For?

Borislav Nikolić is best known for being a high-level finisher with dangerous striking and submission skills.

His professional wins include:

• 7 wins by KO/TKO
• 8 wins by submission
• 2 wins by decision

That balance is important.

Nikolić is not simply a striker with some grappling knowledge. At the same time, he is not a grappler who needs the fight on the ground.

He can finish opponents in either area.

Rear-naked chokes, guillotines, triangle chokes and the ninja choke have all appeared on his record.

Meanwhile, his knockout wins have come through punches, elbows and pressure.

As a result, opponents have to prepare for several different threats.

What Is Borislav Nikolić’s Fighting Style?

Nikolić is an aggressive, well-rounded bantamweight who mixes striking with submission grappling.

He likes opponents who are willing to fight back.

In fact, Nikolić has spoken about finding it harder to face opponents who only try to survive or control him rather than exchange.

When a fighter stands and trades with him, his aggression becomes easier to see.

However, he also owns eight submission wins.

His guillotine has been especially effective throughout his career, while a ninja choke against Nicholas Hwende added another unusual finish to his record.

Nikolić also works on his stand-up with coaches who help him prepare for different stances and styles. He explained that one of his coaches had been especially useful when preparing for southpaw opponents.

Who Does Borislav Nikolić Train With?

Nikolić has trained with several teams during his career.

Earlier in his journey, he spent time with Titan Fight Team in Vršac.

Later, he moved through other Serbian gyms while searching for an environment that suited him better.

Eventually, Nikolić returned to work with Nemanja Milošević, who became one of the most important figures in his career.

Nikolić has spoken about enjoying the training environment more once he found a setup that allowed him to learn through live situations rather than simply being told what to do.

That approach fits his personality.

He wants training to feel real.

If something does not work, he prefers to find out during hard practice and then fix it.

What Did Borislav Nikolić Accomplish in BRAVE CF?

BRAVE CF became the promotion where Nikolić reached another level.

He fought several strong opponents under the BRAVE banner and eventually became the promotion’s bantamweight champion.

His run included victories over fighters such as:

• Ali Guliev
• Eqiyuebu
• Nicholas Hwende
• Hamza Kooheji
• Matheus Malta

Several of those fights ended by stoppage.

Nikolić also produced one of the most memorable comeback wins of his BRAVE career before later headlining BRAVE CF 100.

The promotion eventually announced his move to the UFC after his championship run.

By that point, Nikolić had already proved that he could fight through difficult moments and finish high-level opponents.

How Did Borislav Nikolić Become BRAVE Champion?

Nikolić’s road to the BRAVE title was built around persistence.

After losing to Gamzat Magomedov in 2022, he did not lose again.

Instead, he began a long winning streak.

Ali Guliev was knocked out in the first round.

Eqiyuebu fell by TKO.

Cleuber Cabral was submitted.

Nicholas Hwende was caught in a ninja choke.

Then came Hamza Kooheji.

Nikolić stopped him by knockout in the fourth round of their BRAVE CF 100 fight.

That win became one of the biggest moments of his pre-UFC career.

What Is Borislav Nikolić’s MMA Record?

Borislav Nikolić holds a professional MMA record of 17 wins and 2 losses.

His victories break down as:

• 7 wins by KO/TKO
• 8 wins by submission
• 2 wins by decision

His two defeats came against Brad Katona and Gamzat Magomedov.

Katona submitted Nikolić by guillotine choke in 2021.

Then, in 2022, Magomedov defeated him by unanimous decision.

Nikolić has not lost since.

What Is Borislav Nikolić’s Winning Streak?

Nikolić is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak.

That run began after his 2022 loss to Gamzat Magomedov.

Since then, he has beaten:

• Ali Guliev
• Eqiyuebu
• Cleuber Cabral
• Nicholas Hwende
• Hamza Kooheji
• Matheus Malta
• Mark Vologdin

More importantly, five of those seven wins came by stoppage.

Therefore, the streak has not been built on narrow decisions.

Nikolić has continued finishing opponents as the level of competition increased.

How Did Borislav Nikolić Get Into the UFC?

Nikolić reached the UFC after becoming one of BRAVE CF’s top bantamweights.

His championship success made him difficult to overlook.

Then, after another win against Matheus Malta in February 2026, the UFC opportunity arrived.

BRAVE publicly congratulated Nikolić when he signed and described his run with the promotion as a major success.

For Nikolić, the move represented the next step after years of competing across Europe and the international scene.

He had spent a long time saying he believed he belonged at the highest level.

Finally, he had the chance to prove it.

What Happened in Borislav Nikolić’s UFC Debut?

Nikolić made his UFC debut against Mark Vologdin on August 1, 2026.

The fight took place in Belgrade, Serbia.

That meant Nikolić was able to make his UFC debut in front of a home crowd.

The fight did not end with the first-round knockout he wanted.

Instead, it became a three-round battle.

Nikolić ultimately won by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 29-27.

The victory improved his professional record to 17-2 and extended his winning streak to seven.

What Did Borislav Nikolić Say After His UFC Debut?

Nikolić made it clear that he respected Vologdin’s toughness.

He said the opponent did not surprise him because he had prepared for different situations.

More importantly, Nikolić felt the moment belonged to him after years of work.

The setting also made the debut special.

He was competing in Serbia, but Nikolić explained that his mindset does not change much depending on the location.

Whether thousands of Serbian fans are watching or only his coach is there, he still treats it as a fight he needs to win.

Afterward, however, he already had another name in mind.

Why Does Borislav Nikolić Want to Fight Brad Katona Again?

Immediately after his UFC debut, Nikolić called for a rematch with Brad Katona.

The reason is simple.

Katona handed Nikolić one of the only two defeats of his professional career.

Their first fight took place at BRAVE CF 50 in April 2021.

Katona won by third-round guillotine choke.

Years later, Nikolić still wants that loss back.

After beating Mark Vologdin in his UFC debut, he directly asked the promotion for Katona.

For Nikolić, the fight would not only be another UFC matchup.

It would be a chance to close one of the few unfinished chapters on his record.

Why Is Borislav Nikolić Called “Zombee”?

Borislav Nikolić is known as “Zombee.”

The spelling plays with the word “zombie” while also fitting Nikolić’s connection to bees.

That second part matters because Nikolić is a beekeeper.

During a Serbian interview, the hosts joked that he was partly a zombie and partly a bee or wasp.

Nikolić played along with the idea while talking about his honey business.

As a result, “Zombee” has become a perfect fit for both sides of his life.

There is the fighter who keeps coming.

Then there is the beekeeper.

Is Borislav Nikolić Really a Beekeeper?

Yes.

Away from MMA, Nikolić works as a beekeeper.

What began as something small eventually became a real business.

Nikolić said he first got involved around five years before the interview and gradually increased the size of his operation.

He started without his own hives.

Then he had five.

Later came 15.

Eventually, Nikolić said he had around 120 beehives.

He also sells honey under his own brand and views the business as something that could continue long after his fighting career ends.

That makes him one of the more unusual personalities on the UFC roster.

Why Does Borislav Nikolić Stand Out?

Borislav Nikolić stands out because there are several different layers to his story.

First, he is experienced.

Nikolić did not reach the UFC as an inexperienced prospect with five or six fights.

He arrived with 18 professional bouts, championship experience and years of international competition behind him.

Second, he is a true finisher.

Fifteen of his 17 wins have come before the final bell.

Finally, there is his life outside fighting.

It is difficult to find many UFC fighters who can say they are also running a growing beekeeping business.

That mix of championship experience, finishing ability and personality makes “Zombee” an interesting addition to the UFC bantamweight division.

Borislav Nikolić FAQs

Who is Borislav Nikolić?

Borislav “Zombee” Nikolić is a Serbian professional MMA fighter who competes in the UFC bantamweight division.

What is Borislav Nikolić’s nickname?

His nickname is “Zombee.”

How old is Borislav Nikolić?

Borislav Nikolić was born on January 29, 1993. He is 33 years old.

Where was Borislav Nikolić born?

Nikolić was born in Vršac, Serbia.

Is Borislav Nikolić Serbian?

Yes. Borislav Nikolić is Serbian and fights out of Serbia.

How tall is Borislav Nikolić?

Nikolić is listed at 5-foot-9, or approximately 177 cm.

What is Borislav Nikolić’s reach?

His listed reach is 72 inches, or approximately 183 cm.

What weight class does Borislav Nikolić fight in?

Nikolić competes in the UFC bantamweight division.

What is Borislav Nikolić’s MMA record?

Borislav Nikolić has a professional MMA record of 17-2.

How many knockouts does Borislav Nikolić have?

Nikolić has seven professional wins by KO or TKO.

How many submissions does Borislav Nikolić have?

He has eight professional submission victories.

What is Borislav Nikolić’s fighting style?

Nikolić is a well-rounded MMA fighter who mixes aggressive striking with strong submission grappling.

Was Borislav Nikolić a BRAVE champion?

Yes. Nikolić became a BRAVE CF bantamweight champion before signing with the UFC.

Who did Borislav Nikolić fight in his UFC debut?

Nikolić faced Mark Vologdin on August 1, 2026.

Did Borislav Nikolić win his UFC debut?

Yes. Nikolić defeated Mark Vologdin by unanimous decision.

Who does Borislav Nikolić want to fight next?

After his UFC debut, Nikolić called for a rematch with Brad Katona, who defeated him earlier in his career.

Is Borislav Nikolić a beekeeper?

Yes. Nikolić is also a beekeeper and has built his own honey business outside MMA.

What is Borislav Nikolić’s Instagram?

Borislav Nikolić’s official Instagram account is @boki_mma.