Navajo Stirling has outlined his reasons for liking the stylistic match-up against his opponent Jacoby at UFC Vegas 119. The fighter expressed confidence heading into the bout at the upcoming Las Vegas card.
Navajo Stirling has spoken publicly about why he believes the stylistic matchup against Jacoby plays into his hands ahead of UFC Vegas 119, expressing clear confidence as the Las Vegas card approaches.
Stirling, 28, enters the bout as one of the most intriguing unbeaten prospects in the light heavyweight or middleweight division. The New Zealander carries a perfect 10-0-0 professional record and trains out of City Kickboxing, the Auckland gym that has produced multiple UFC champions. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, Stirling brings elite physical tools to the octagon. His striking numbers back up the physical frame — he lands 6.24 significant strikes per minute at a 54 percent accuracy rate, figures that place him among the busier and more precise hitters in his division. He averages 0.86 takedowns per 15 minutes, suggesting he is capable of mixing in the grappling game when needed, though he has not recorded submission attempts in his statistical profile.
Stirling outlined his reasoning for liking the matchup without reservation, pointing to stylistic factors he believes favor his approach when the two fighters meet inside the cage.
Why it matters
- Stirling's 10-0 record and City Kickboxing pedigree make him one of the more closely watched unbeaten fighters outside the top rankings
- His combination of volume striking and occasional takedown threat creates a multi-dimensional puzzle for opponents
- A convincing performance at UFC Vegas 119 could push Stirling firmly into divisional ranking conversations
- The matchup gives him a platform to validate the confidence he has expressed publicly heading into fight week
