Navajo Stirling Opens Up on Accepting UFC Belgrade Bout After Vacation

Navajo Stirling (10-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC,) the No. 10 contender at 205 lbs, has had a busy summer so far this year. As recently as a few weeks ago, the undefeated light heavyweight wasn't supposed to be traveling for this Saturday night's UFC Belgrade co-main event.

No. 13 contender Jan Blachowicz (29-11-2 MMA, 12-8-2 UFC) was initially slated to have fought No. 9 contender Bogdan Guskov (18-4-1 MMA, 4-2-1 UFC) in a rescheduling of a rematch from earlier this year on UFC Belgrade until Guskov was instead booked for a contest against No. 1 contender Magomed Ankalaev (22-2-1, 1 NC MMA, 13-2-1, 1 NC UFC) last weekend in Abu Dhabi. Guskov wound up losing by fifth-round knockout (ground and pound.)

Earlier on in July, it was reported that Navajo Stirling would be stepping in for Bogdan Guskov on the Aug. 1 card, just weeks after besting Ion Cutelaba inside the second round with ground and pound shots.

Navajo Stirling Appears on Home of Fight to Discuss Short-Notice Appearance

With fight night in Belgrade less than a week away, Navajo Stirling was a recent guest of Jake Noecker on Home of Fight. During the interview, he talked about receiving the call to fight this coming Saturday after returning from a trip.

"I'd just come off of holiday mode in Japan," Navajo Stirling began. "I'm always training in the gym despite whatever I'm doing. It's like my routine. I was back in routine but I'd just come off of a massive bender and just rolled into the weeks and got offered a fight. I just said 'Yeah, bro, I'm keen.'"

Short-notice fight or not, Stirling mentioned he's in top shape for this weekend's co-headlining attraction in Serbia.

"I've just got to utilize my youth," he continued. "I'd just come off the best camp of my life, so why wouldn't I take it?"

Navajo Stirling Can Go Deep in Fight if Necessary

Navajo Stirling has yet to lose an MMA fight in his professional career. Prior to the June 20 victory over Cutelaba, he began his 2026 with a March 28 bout in Seattle at Climate Pledge Arena. 

That early spring Saturday night, he finished Bruno Lopes inside the second round to run his winning streak to nine in a row. Much like the fight on June 20, this fight will also be a three-round affair at five minutes per round as the co-main event.

Even though Navajo Stirling is only slated for 15 minutes of action against Jan Blachowicz on Saturday night during UFC Belgrade, he believes his fitness will carry him into the latter portions of the fight should it get that far. 

"I could go five rounds if I wanted to," Stirling continued. "I've got the experience, I know how to take my time in there. The fight for Ion, I was the fittest I've ever been. Took a while to wake up the engine, but once I got into the camp groove and my body got used to the load, I pretty much was back to where I left off for that fight."

Navajo Stirling Recaps Lessons Learned from First Bouts in UFC

With Stirling now staking claim to the No. 10 spot at 205 lbs after only five fights in the UFC, his tenure with the promotion has gotten off to a flawless start. He turned back the clock to talk about his early appearances in the company and how those wins have led to where he is now.

"The first three fights, all those situations I was put in, I could have gone in and knocked everyone out in the first round and came out with nothing," Stirling recalls. "When you go in as a young, undefeated prospect with five fights and you get put in situations, you're getting taken down, you're having a bit of trouble on the feet, maybe getting backed up, maybe you're going forward, the guy's taking you down and you've got to get up." 

"All those situations I've been put in and all of those fights, and now everything's clicking," he continued. "All the cogs are turning now and there's no need to hesitate."