Unbeaten light heavyweight Navajo Stirling (10-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) revealed he was coming off a holiday in Japan when he accepted a short-notice co-main event bout against former UFC champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC Fight Night 283 in Belgrade. Stirling, who finished Ion Cuțelaba by second-round TKO just last month, said he took the fight in under three weeks' notice, crediting his youth and the momentum from what he called the best camp of his life. The City Kickboxing fighter enters as a -350 favourite, a line that surprised even Stirling himself.
Navajo Stirling has revealed he accepted a short-notice co-main event slot against former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC Fight Night 283 in Belgrade while recovering from a holiday in Japan, describing himself as coming off "a massive bender" when the call came in.
The 28-year-old New Zealander, fighting out of City Kickboxing, entered the matchup with a perfect 10-0 MMA record and a flawless 5-0 mark inside the Octagon. Ranked 15th in the light heavyweight division, Stirling had just stopped Ion Cuțelaba by TKO in the second round the month prior, and he took the Blachowicz fight on fewer than three weeks' notice. Despite the unconventional preparation, Stirling credited his youth and what he described as the best training camp of his career as reasons for taking the opportunity. Standing six-foot-four and carrying a 79-inch reach, he is one of the more physically imposing prospects in the division and generates an impressive 6.24 significant strikes per minute at a 54 percent accuracy rate.
Blachowicz, meanwhile, is a seasoned veteran of the division at 43 years old. The Polish fighter holds a 29-11-2 professional record and sits ranked fourth at light heavyweight, bringing the experience of a former championship reign into the co-main event slot. Standing six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach, Blachowicz lands 3.44 significant strikes per minute and mixes in 1.03 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, offering a well-rounded threat across multiple areas.
Why it matters
- Stirling enters as a heavy favourite despite the chaotic lead-up, with the -350 line surprising even the fighter himself.
- A win over a ranked former champion would represent a massive leap for the 15th-ranked Stirling and thrust him firmly into title contention conversations.
- The style contrast is sharp — Stirling's high-volume striking output against Blachowicz's championship-tested experience and grappling versatility sets up an intriguing test for the unbeaten prospect.
