Who Is Marina Spasić? Meet ‘Maki Beki,’ the Serbian Knockout Artist Who Found Her Home in MMA

Instead, the new sport changed her career.

Years later, Spasić developed into an aggressive strawweight with a reputation for body attacks, pressure and knockout power. Six of her professional MMA victories have come by KO or TKO, making her finishing rate unusual for the division.

However, the story behind “Maki Beki” stretches far beyond her MMA record.

Marina Spasić Fighter Information

Who Is Marina Spasić?

Marina “Maki Beki” Spasić is a Serbian professional mixed martial artist from Belgrade who competes in the women’s strawweight division.

Before focusing on MMA, she spent years competing in both athletics and kickboxing.

In fact, Spasić has described athletics as an important base for her movement and conditioning. Kickboxing then developed her striking, while MMA eventually allowed her to combine striking with wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

That broad sporting background helps explain why her transition into MMA was relatively successful.

Although grappling was initially unfamiliar, Spasić already understood competition, conditioning and pressure from years in other sports.

Where Is Marina Spasić From?

Marina Spasić was born in Belgrade, Serbia and continues to represent Serbia in professional competition.

Her career has also taken her outside the country for both training and fights.

However, Belgrade remains central to her story.

Spasić developed through Serbia’s combat sports scene before eventually competing internationally for promotions such as FNC and BRAVE CF. Later, she reached the UFC level as part of a strong group of fighters connected to coach Nemanja Milošević.

How Did Marina Spasić Start Sports?

Long before MMA, Spasić was an athlete in the traditional sense.

She spent around 10 years training and competing in athletics.

Originally, sport was supposed to remain part of a balanced life.

Spasić planned to study, continue exercising and follow a more traditional path.

Then she tried kickboxing.

Only about six months after starting, she entered her first competition and won.

A second victory followed soon afterward.

Suddenly, the recreational hobby was becoming something much more serious.

How Long Did Marina Spasić Compete in Kickboxing?

Kickboxing became a huge part of Spasić’s development.

She spent roughly 12 years involved in the sport before committing fully to MMA.

During that period, she accumulated extensive competition experience.

A 2025 interview described her as having around 80 combat-sport matches overall, including 26 kickboxing bouts in the relevant competition record being discussed.

More importantly, those years taught her how to perform under pressure.

By the time Spasić moved seriously into MMA, being hit, competing in front of crowds and following a fight camp were already familiar experiences.

Did Marina Spasić Train in the Netherlands?

Yes.

One major turning point came when Spasić went to the Netherlands to continue developing her kickboxing.

She later described that move as one of the two most important decisions of her fighting career.

The other was leaving kickboxing behind to focus completely on MMA.

Training abroad required independence and commitment.

It also proved she was willing to leave familiar surroundings when better opportunities were available.

That same attitude later helped her adjust to MMA.

Did Marina Spasić’s Family Support Her Fighting Career?

Not at first.

Spasić has said her parents did not want her to become a fighter.

However, she continued anyway.

She traveled to the Netherlands, pursued kickboxing, completed university and continued competing despite the doubts around her career choice.

That period appears to have shaped one of her strongest beliefs.

For Spasić, believing in yourself matters even when other people do not immediately understand the goal.

Did Marina Spasić Finish University?

Yes.

Alongside building her combat sports career, Spasić also completed university.

She has spoken about finishing her studies while continuing to pursue kickboxing and professional fighting, despite her parents initially wanting a different path for her.

That part of her story is easy to overlook because most attention now goes toward fighting.

Still, it adds another layer to the discipline required during her early career.

Why Did Marina Spasić Switch From Kickboxing to MMA?

Strangely enough, Spasić initially did not like MMA.

She never expected it to become her main sport.

The opportunity came through her manager, who received interest connected to French promotion ARES.

The idea was simple.

Learn enough MMA to take a few fights, earn better money than kickboxing offered and then return to striking.

At first, Spasić rejected the idea.

However, the financial opportunity eventually convinced her to try.

That temporary experiment became permanent.

Who Helped Marina Spasić Transition Into MMA?

An important early figure was coach Slobodan Maksimović, known as “Limp.”

When Spasić first arrived for MMA training, the situation was unusual.

She had only months to prepare.

Initially, Limp reportedly did not want to take the project because he did not believe six months was enough time to properly teach her MMA.

Eventually, he agreed.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted everything.

Instead of fighting immediately, Spasić gained far more time to develop.

By the time competition returned, she had spent much longer learning the sport.

Why Is Marina Spasić Called “Maki Beki”?

The nickname has one of the more personal origins in MMA.

“Maki Beki” was never originally meant to be a fighting nickname.

It began as an Instagram username.

Spasić’s sister had an account name using “Beki,” which came from the family’s golden retriever.

When Marina created her own Instagram account, she copied the idea and chose Maki Beki.

At the time, she had no idea Instagram would become so important or that the username would eventually follow her into professional fighting.

Sadly, Beki later died at age 13.

Spasić has said she grew up with the dog, which gives the nickname a much deeper meaning than fans might expect.

What Is Marina Spasić Known For?

Spasić is best known in MMA for powerful striking and a high knockout rate for a strawweight.

Six of her professional victories have come by KO or TKO.

Several finishes have also involved attacks to the body.

That is not accidental.

Spasić’s years in kickboxing gave her a strong understanding of distance, combinations and how to create damage without relying only on head hunting.

As a result, body punches and kicks have become important weapons.

Her background also gives her confidence when opponents choose to exchange on the feet.

What Is Marina Spasić’s Fighting Style?

Spasić is primarily a pressure striker with a deep kickboxing background.

She prefers moving forward rather than allowing an opponent to control the pace.

However, her years in MMA have added wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and cage work to that striking base.

Spasić has explained that one attraction of MMA is precisely that mixture.

Athletics gave her movement and conditioning.

Kickboxing provided the striking foundation.

Meanwhile, MMA forced her to combine that skill with grappling and wrestling.

Therefore, her style today is broader than the kickboxer who first entered an MMA gym.

Why Are Body Shots Important to Marina Spasić?

Body attacks appear repeatedly in Spasić’s fighting style.

She has produced stoppages through both body punches and kicks.

That weapon fits her pressure-heavy approach.

Instead of only attacking an opponent’s head, working the body can slow movement and make later combinations easier to land.

Her team has also built specific finishing sequences around those attacks.

Consequently, the body shot is not simply something Spasić throws when an opening appears.

It has become a genuine part of her identity as a striker.

How Experienced Is Marina Spasić?

Her professional MMA record does not fully show her experience.

Before MMA, Spasić had already spent years competing in athletics and kickboxing.

Therefore, she entered the cage with far more competitive experience than a typical MMA newcomer.

Spasić herself has pointed toward experience as one reason she remains calm during fights.

She does not believe that level of composure appears automatically after only a handful of matches.

Instead, it comes from competing repeatedly and gradually learning how to process pressure.

How Does Marina Spasić Stay Calm During Fights?

Experience is part of the answer.

Coaching is another.

Spasić has specifically credited Limp with helping her become calmer during competition.

According to her, he developed the ability to settle her enough that she could clearly hear instructions during fights.

That is extremely important in MMA.

A fighter can have excellent technique in training, yet panic can erase much of it once punches start coming back.

For Spasić, learning to remain present became another skill.

Who Is Marina Spasić’s Coach?

Spasić’s listed head coach is Nemanja Milošević.

She has spoken highly of his commitment to his fighters, describing him as someone who lives for the sport and gives serious attention to each athlete on his team.

Milošević has also coached several other fighters from the Serbian MMA scene.

That wider team environment gives Spasić access to different body types, styles and levels of experience.

However, her development has involved more than one coach over the years.

Limp played a particularly important role in her early move from kickboxing into MMA.

Does Marina Spasić Train With Men?

Yes.

Male training partners have been part of Spasić’s preparation.

Because women in her weight range can be harder to find in some gyms, she has regularly sparred with men.

Spasić has described those sessions as difficult but useful because they force her to deal with different levels of strength and pressure.

Still, training needs to be controlled.

The purpose is preparation rather than simply proving who is stronger in the gym.

What Does Marina Spasić’s Training Schedule Look Like?

During serious preparation, Spasić has described training twice per day, six days per week.

The remaining day is used for recovery.

Massage, spa treatments, rest and time with family can all form part of that recovery process.

Her schedule can become extremely simple during camp.

Train.

Eat.

Recover.

Sleep.

Then repeat.

That routine is demanding, but years of high-level sport prepared her for the discipline required.

What Does Marina Spasić Eat During Fight Camp?

Nutrition becomes stricter when competition approaches.

Spasić has discussed eating foods such as:

• Oatmeal
• Eggs
• Tuna
• Meat
• Salads

Meanwhile, sweets, sugary drinks and bread may be removed when she needs tighter control of her weight.

Outside camp, she allows herself more freedom.

Therefore, her diet is not built around pretending she never enjoys normal food.

Instead, the strictest rules appear when performance and weight cutting require them.

What Has Marina Spasić Said About Weight Cutting?

Spasić has historically been a relatively small athlete.

During parts of her kickboxing and early MMA career, she did not need extreme weight cuts.

However, competing internationally changed the situation.

She has explained that her natural body weight generally sits around the upper-50-kilogram range, while strawweight requires her to move down toward 52 kilograms.

That adjustment became another part of competing at a higher level.

Does Marina Spasić Own a Gym?

Yes.

Beyond competing, Spasić has also become involved in coaching younger athletes through her own club.

That gives her career another direction beyond simply accumulating fights.

Teaching also allows her to pass on years of experience from athletics, kickboxing and MMA.

For Spasić, combat sports have gradually become more than a job.

They are also something she can eventually give back to the next generation.

What Does Marina Spasić Think About Women in Combat Sports?

Spasić has watched women’s combat sports change significantly during her own career.

When she began, fewer girls were involved in kickboxing and MMA.

Over time, she noticed more women entering gyms.

Spasić believes female fighters are gradually earning a larger place in combat sports, although she still thinks progress is needed.

One of the most meaningful parts of her career is hearing that another girl started training because of her example.

For Spasić, that makes the difficult years worthwhile.

What Advice Does Marina Spasić Give Young Fighters?

One message appears repeatedly in her interviews:

Believe in yourself.

That idea comes from personal experience.

Her parents did not originally want her to become a fighter.

The path was uncertain.

Women’s combat sports offered fewer opportunities.

Still, Spasić continued.

She has also told younger athletes to follow their dreams rather than allowing fear or other people’s expectations to make the decision for them.

What Does Marina Spasić Want From Her Fighting Career?

Spasić has never framed simply reaching a major promotion as the final goal.

Even before reaching the UFC level, she talked about wanting to leave a mark rather than sign a contract, collect money and disappear.

Her ambitions have always gone further.

First comes establishing herself.

Then climbing.

After that, the dream becomes reaching the rankings and eventually fighting for a championship.

Spasić has specifically named the UFC belt as the highest goal of her career.

What Does Marina Spasić Do Outside Fighting?

Spasić’s personality away from competition is much less intimidating than her fighting style suggests.

She prefers sneakers over heels.

Comedy wins over horror movies because, by her own admission, horror films scare her.

Meanwhile, before entering an arena, she has joked that three non-fighting essentials are her braids, lip balm and deodorant.

Those small details offer a more relaxed picture of the person behind “Maki Beki.”

Why Does Marina Spasić Stand Out?

Marina Spasić stands out because her MMA career is really the third chapter of a much longer sporting life.

First came athletics.

Then came more than a decade of kickboxing.

Only afterward did MMA enter the picture.

Ironically, she did not even want to make the switch at first.

Yet the sport she expected to leave eventually became the place where everything came together.

Her movement came from athletics.

Her striking came from kickboxing.

Then wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu completed the puzzle.

Along the way, Spasić also overcame family doubts, trained abroad, completed university and built enough experience to become a coach herself.

The fight record will change.

Those parts of the story will not.

Marina Spasić Career Update

Current professional record: 7-2
Current division: UFC Women’s Strawweight
Latest result: Loss to Stephanie Luciano
Method: Rear-naked choke
Round: 1
Time: 3:30
Date: August 1, 2026

Spasić’s UFC debut ended in a first-round submission loss to Stephanie Luciano in Belgrade. Before entering the promotion, the Serbian had built her professional success largely around striking finishes.

Marina Spasić FAQs

Who is Marina Spasić?

Marina “Maki Beki” Spasić is a Serbian professional MMA fighter who competes in the UFC women’s strawweight division.

What is Marina Spasić’s nickname?

Her nickname is “Maki Beki.”

Why is Marina Spasić called Maki Beki?

The nickname originally came from her Instagram username. “Beki” was the name of her family’s golden retriever, while “Maki” came from Marina. Eventually, the username became her fighting nickname.

When was Marina Spasić born?

Marina Spasić was born on July 11, 1994.

Where was Marina Spasić born?

She was born in Belgrade, Serbia.

Is Marina Spasić Serbian?

Yes. Marina Spasić is Serbian and fights out of Belgrade.

How tall is Marina Spasić?

She is listed at 5-foot-4, or approximately 163 cm.

What is Marina Spasić’s reach?

Her listed reach is 64 inches, or approximately 163 cm.

What weight class does Marina Spasić fight in?

Spasić competes in the women’s strawweight division.

What is Marina Spasić’s fighting style?

She is primarily a pressure striker with a long kickboxing background, although MMA training has added wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu to her game.

Did Marina Spasić compete in athletics?

Yes. She spent around 10 years training and competing in athletics before focusing on combat sports.

Was Marina Spasić a kickboxer?

Yes. Kickboxing was a major part of her career for roughly 12 years before she moved fully into MMA.

Did Marina Spasić train in the Netherlands?

Yes. Training and competing in the Netherlands became one of the important turning points in her kickboxing career.

Who helped Marina Spasić transition to MMA?

Coach Slobodan Maksimović, known as Limp, played an important role in helping her make the transition from kickboxing to MMA.

Who is Marina Spasić’s head coach?

Her listed head coach is Nemanja Milošević, whom she has praised for his commitment to his fighters.

Does Marina Spasić train with men?

Yes. Male sparring partners have been part of her preparation throughout her combat sports career.

Did Marina Spasić finish university?

Yes. Spasić has spoken about completing university while pursuing her combat sports career.

Does Marina Spasić coach other fighters?

Yes. She has also worked with younger athletes through her own club.

What is Marina Spasić’s career goal?

Spasić has said the highest goal is to reach the top of her division and fight for a UFC championship.

What is Marina Spasić’s MMA record?

Her latest professional record is listed in the fighter table and career update section above.

What is Marina Spasić’s Instagram?

Marina Spasić’s official Instagram account is @maki_beki.