Navajo Stirling takes short-notice fight with Jan Błachowicz

Navajo Stirling will face the most experienced opponent of his unbeaten career this weekend after accepting a short-notice fight against former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz.

The New Zealander will meet Błachowicz in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night: Medić vs Rodriguez in Belgrade. The UFC’s official event listing currently has the No.15-ranked Stirling facing the division’s No.4 contender.

It is a rapid turnaround for Stirling, who only competed on June 20. The City Kickboxing representative extended his professional record to 10-0 by stopping Ion Cutelaba with strikes in the second round, recording his fifth consecutive UFC victory.

Now, less than two months later, Stirling is stepping into a significantly bigger assignment with limited preparation time. UFC Australia described the fight as a short-notice opportunity, with Stirling moving directly into fight simulation training after accepting the match-up.

From Cutelaba to a former champion

Ahead of the Cutelaba fight, Stirling joined Australian MMA to discuss his development since joining the UFC, the conditioning changes made during camp and the importance of remaining disciplined against an aggressive veteran.

Stirling believed he had not yet displayed his complete skill set inside the UFC and entered the Cutelaba fight chasing a statement performance rather than simply protecting his unbeaten record.

He delivered on that ambition by producing a second-round stoppage. The performance accelerated his rise through the light heavyweight division and has now opened the door to a fight few would have expected this soon.

Błachowicz presents an entirely different challenge. The Polish veteran has competed at the highest level of the division for more than a decade and previously held the UFC light heavyweight championship. Stirling will enter with momentum and an unbeaten record, but without the benefit of a complete training camp built around this specific opponent.

Their meeting gives Stirling an immediate opportunity to establish where he belongs among the division’s leading contenders. It also represents a considerable risk against one of the most accomplished opponents available at 205 pounds.

Watch our complete interview with Navajo Stirling before his victory over Ion Cutelaba, covering his development, conditioning, UFC ambitions and the mentality behind his unbeaten run:

Watch the Navajo Stirling interview on YouTube

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