Jan Blachowicz and Navajo Stirling have been booked as the co-main event for UFC Belgrade on August 1. The card marks the UFC's first event in Serbia and will air live on Paramount+.
Jan Blachowicz and Navajo Stirling have been confirmed as the co-main event of UFC Belgrade, scheduled for August 1 in what will be the promotion's first event on Serbian soil. The card will stream live on Paramount+.
Blachowicz, 43, enters the bout as the fifth-ranked light heavyweight in the world, carrying a career record of 29-11-2. The Polish veteran trains out of WCA Fight Team and fights out of an orthodox stance, standing six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach. He averages 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy, and also poses a takedown threat at just over one per 15 minutes.
His opponent, Navajo Stirling, arrives undefeated at 10-0. The 28-year-old New Zealander trains at the renowned City Kickboxing gym in Auckland and brings a notably higher offensive output than Blachowicz, landing 6.24 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy. Stirling stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, giving him a slight size advantage over the former champion.
Why it matters
- Blachowicz is a former UFC light heavyweight champion looking to reassert himself inside the top five; a win over an undefeated prospect would strengthen his position considerably.
- Stirling steps into the biggest fight of his career against a ranked, established contender, and a victory could catapult him directly into title contention.
- The styles present an intriguing contrast — Stirling's high-volume striking against Blachowicz's measured, experienced approach with added grappling dimensions.
- The fight serves as a marquee attraction for the UFC's historic debut in Serbia, raising the stakes for both men on an international stage.
