Navajo Stirling has been confirmed as the new opponent for former UFC light-heavyweight titleholder Jan Blachowicz at UFC Fight Night on 1 August at the Belgrade Arena in Serbia.
Short notice switch and a big step up
The pairing was announced on Friday after a reshuffle in the promotion’s summer schedule. Stirling, the 28-year-old City Kickboxing prospect from Stirling, moves into the main card slot previously set for a rematch between Blachowicz and Bogdan Guskov.
Stirling enters the contest undefeated in mixed martial arts with a professional record of 10-0, including 5-0 under the UFC banner. He is coming off a notable second-round TKO victory over Ion Cutelaba in June and will be fighting for the third time within five months.
Experienced former champion as opponent
Blachowicz brings significant experience to the matchup. His career record stands at 29-11-2 overall, with a UFC record of 12-8-2. The former champion has hit a rough patch of late, failing to secure a win in his most recent four outings; his last victory came via RTD against Aleksandar Rakic in May 2022.
- Date: 1 August
- Venue: Belgrade Arena, Serbia
- Stirling’s record: 10-0 (5-0 UFC)
- Blachowicz’s record: 29-11-2 (12-8-2 UFC)
Card context and wider line-up
The match change followed another switch that saw Bogdan Guskov called up to headline the Abu Dhabi card in late July. With Stirling added, the Belgrade event now features a mix of established names and rising talents. Notable bouts on the same bill include Uros Medic against Daniel Rodriguez and Ante Delija versus Johnny Walker.
| Fighter | Record (pro) | UFC record |
|---|---|---|
| Navajo Stirling | 10-0 | 5-0 |
| Jan Blachowicz | 29-11-2 | 12-8-2 |
For Stirling, this represents a sharp rise in opposition. For local supporters in Stirling, the fight will be watched as a key moment in the career of one of the city’s most promising combat sports figures. Ticketing and broadcast details for the Belgrade card have been handled by the promotion; the event is scheduled to be available on Paramount+ in some territories.
Further updates may follow as both camps prepare in the run-up to the fight and weigh-ins approach.
