Navajo Stirling has agreed to step in on short notice to face former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz.
The bout will serve as the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 283 on Saturday at Belgrade Arena in Serbia.
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Stirling, who holds a perfect 10-0 MMA record and 5-0 in the UFC, accepted the fight with less than three weeks' notice.
He replaced Bogdan Guskov, who was moved to fight Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Fight Night 282.
Blachowicz, with a professional record of 29-11-2, is looking for his first win since May 2022.
In his last four outings, he has two losses and two draws, including a majority draw against Guskov at UFC 323 in December.
Stirling has finished his last two opponents, Bruno Lopes and Ion Cutelaba, both by second-round stoppage.
Despite the short preparation, he expressed confidence, citing his consistent training and a recent camp in Japan.
“I’d just come off holiday mode in Japan,” Stirling said. “I’m always training in the gym despite whatever I’m doing.
That’s my routine.”
He added, “I just came off the best camp of my life, so why wouldn’t I take it?”
Stirling acknowledged the step up in competition against a seasoned veteran like Blachowicz. He was also surprised to see himself as the betting favorite.
“Damn, I thought I was going to be the underdog,” Stirling said. “Maybe I got to post my clips from Japan getting on the bender (laughs).”
