The Student of the Game: Obsessive Learning & Technical Evolution

Zdravković isn't just a fighter; he's a dedicated student of martial arts. His commitment to learning is relentless, extending far beyond scheduled training sessions: Constant Consumption: He describes himself as a "nerd" when not training. His free time is spent watching fights, analyzing techniques, and studying instructional seminars from the world's best. "Ja već ono ne znam koliko godina, par godina unazad ono svakog dana ne znam, gledam različite seminare nekih dvadesetak minuta." (I don't know how many years, for several years now, every day I don't know, I watch different seminars for about twenty minutes.)
Global Influences: His virtual coaches include a who's who of combat sports: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dominick Cruz, Gordon Ryan, John Danaher, Craig Jones. He absorbs their knowledge, seeking nuances and systems he can integrate into his own game.
Game-Changing Techniques: Zdravković specifically highlights the impact of studying Craig Jones, particularly his application of the Octopus Guard for MMA. "Octopus Guard je Game Changer isto, pogotovo za- Za MMA je jako, jako dobra stvar aa da stvoriš taj scramble i da jednostavno izađeš iz nekih pozicija iz kojih je jako, jako teško izaći ovako." (Octopus Guard is also a Game Changer, especially for - For MMA it's a very, very good thing to create that scramble and simply get out of some positions from which it's very, very difficult to get out otherwise.) He emphasizes the value of seeing techniques applied live in sparring during seminars, like Gordon Ryan's, to understand the mechanics and pressure points.
Building a Unique System: This constant study allows him to piece together a diverse skill set – combining his natural striking power with high-level grappling and catch-wrestling influences, creating a style that is difficult to prepare for. He credits this approach for his rapid progression despite starting late: "Imam sigurno preko pedeset, šezdeset rvlačkih borbi samo, možda i više... A grepling je to što si- Prav- verovatno i više, verovatno Znači baš ono kad spojiš sve te mečeve, to je sto, sto deset mečeva." (I certainly have over fifty, sixty wrestling matches alone, maybe even more... And grappling is that which you- Prob- probably even more, probably Meaning, well, when you combine all those matches, that's one hundred, one hundred and ten matches.)

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UFC Ready: The Unshakeable Belief

Zdravković's confidence in his abilities is absolute. While he respects the FNC platform and is open to defending his title, particularly after the success of the Belgrade event, his ultimate goal is clear: the UFC.
Self-Assessment: He believes he is prepared for the UFC right now. "Pa iskreno, ako mene sad pitaš, ja sam već sad spreman, spreman za UFC i vjerujem da bi pobedio dosta, dosta boraca i da kažem kroz te borbe koje bi imao u UFC-u ja bih dodatno isto napredovao." (Well honestly, if you ask me now, I'm already ready, ready for the UFC and I believe I would beat many, many fighters and I would say through those fights I would have in the UFC I would additionally progress.)
Confidence Against All: He doesn't shy away from stating his belief that he poses a threat to any bantamweight in the world, including the UFC champion. "Eh, verujem da sam problem svakom borcu u bantam kategoriji, bez obzira da li je on šampion UFC-a ili kontender ili top petnaest ili nije uopšte rangeran." (Well, I believe I'm a problem for every fighter in the bantamweight category, regardless of whether he's the UFC champion or a contender or top fifteen or not even ranked.)
The Only Obstacle: Zdravković identifies only one potential barrier to his success: himself. "I verujem da, da, da, da, da moje protivnike hvata strah kad, kad pogledaju meni u oči baš zbog toga, jer ja, ja znam koliko sam se trudio i znam da oni nisu toliko dali... I jedini čovjek koji može da me zaustavi je ja sam, ja sam. S nekim svojim glupim, da kažem, odlukama..." (And I believe that, that, that, that my opponents get scared when, when they look me in the eyes precisely because of that, because I, I know how hard I worked and I know they haven't given as much... And the only person who can stop me is myself, myself. With some stupid, I'd say, decisions...)

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The Practical Reality: Sponsorship, Sacrifice & Support

Reaching and maintaining an elite level in MMA requires significant resources. Zdravković is candid about the financial demands and the crucial role of sponsorship:
Cost of Excellence: Top-tier training isn't cheap. Travel (he lives 70km from his gym), quality nutrition, supplementation, coaching fees, and specialized camps all add up. "Taj novac jeee ono da kažem, naj, najbitniji oko, oko tih priprema... Meni je isto jako bitno zato što ja putujem dosta na, na, na trening jer živim nekih sedamdeset kilometara od mog gyma... samo to gorivo mene košta ono baš, baš puno... a vidi se ostalo, da kažem splementacija- a ishrana-A znaš kako je kad, kad si u kampu, znači moraš da jedeš stvarno kvalitetnu hranu.- I dosta." (That money is, I'd say, the most important thing around those preparations... It's also very important to me because I travel a lot for training since I live some seventy kilometers from my gym... just that fuel costs me really, really a lot... and you see the rest, I'd say supplementation- and nutrition- You know how it is when, when you're in camp, meaning you have to eat really quality food.- And a lot.)
Bazar Partnership: He specifically thanked Bazar for their sponsorship support for his FNC title fight, emphasizing their understanding of the fighter's journey. "Eto, da iskoristim priliku da se zahvalim Bazer, oni su mi bili sponzor sad za ovaj meč... Meni je drago da kažem da sarađujemo i aa sa njima jer su stvarno rade ozbiljan posao i stvarno cene da kažem borca, cene ono što, što radi taj trud i, i, i požrtvovanje koje, koje mi ono dajemo..."

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Life Beyond the Cage: Support, Balance, and the Future

While MMA is his driving force, Zdravković acknowledges the importance of a stable personal life:
Crucial Support System: He credits his girlfriend and family for providing unwavering support, allowing him to focus entirely on his career. "Generalno ta podrška od porodice i od moje djevojke i od svih tih ljudi oko mene stvarno mi dosta puno znači, jer onda ja mogu da se koncentrišem sto posto na, na, na sport." (Generally, that support from family and from my girlfriend and from all those people around me really means a lot to me, because then I can concentrate one hundred percent on, on, on sport.)
The Champion's Mindset: His dedication borders on obsession. Outside of training and fighting, his world revolves around studying the sport. There's little time for traditional hobbies; MMA is his hobby and his life's work. "Znaš kako ja sam ti baš ono šta bi rekli nerd. Kad ne treniram ono ili gledam neke da kažem borbe ili gledam seminare, učim, gledam da, da iskoristim svaki trenutak koji mogu da, da, da napredujem ono u svom znanju..." (You know how I'm just what you'd call a nerd. When I'm not training, I'm either watching some, I'd say, fights or watching seminars, learning, trying to use every moment I can to, to, to progress, I'd say, in my knowledge...)
Future Fights & Legacy: Regarding potential FNC opponents like Fran Luka Đurić, Zdravković remains respectful but confident, stating he feels he's at a different level in his career. His focus remains on continuous improvement and reaching the UFC. He wants to represent the Balkans on the biggest stage, following in the footsteps of legends like Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović, whom he cites as a huge inspiration for the entire region. "Svi danas kad kažeš borilački sport, ono sinonim je Mirko Cro Cop, bilo gdje, ono, na Balkanu." (Everyone today when you say combat sport, the synonym is Mirko Cro Cop, anywhere, on the Balkans.)

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The Unyielding Spirit

Miljan Zdravković's story is a powerful blueprint for aspiring fighters. It demonstrates that talent alone is insufficient; success is forged through relentless work, intellectual curiosity, strategic planning, immense personal sacrifice, and unwavering self-belief. His journey from the vulcanizing shop to the FNC championship, fueled by hours of study and grueling labor, proves that champions can be built in the most unlikely circumstances. With the FNC belt secured, his eyes fixed firmly on the UFC, and a mindset that refuses to accept limits, Miljan Zdravković isn't just competing; he's on a mission to prove he belongs among the world's absolute best. As he states with chilling conviction: "Ja kažem kad uđem prekoputa, prekoputa čoveka i pogledam ga u oči, ja znam da on, da on vidi da mu nije lagodno i da vidi da, da, da sam ja spreman da umrem." (I say when I step across, across from a man and look him in the eyes, I know that he, that he sees it's not comfortable for him and he sees that, that, that I am ready to die.) This is the mindset of a true champion, and his journey is far from its peak.