Navajo Stirling has spoken confidently ahead of the biggest fight of his young UFC career, declaring now is “his time” as he prepares to face former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in Serbia on Sunday.
Just two years into his UFC journey, the unbeaten New Zealander has rocketed into the division’s top 10 after winning all five of his fights inside the Octagon. Victory over Blachowicz at UFC Fight Night 283 would almost certainly propel the 10-0 prospect into top five contention.
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Speaking to foxsports.com.au, Stirling said the occasion might be bigger than anything he has experienced before, but his mindset remains the same.
“I’m always excited for the matchup… obviously there’s more media, more spotlight and more eyes on me,” he said.
“At the end of the day… it’s just a fight. He’s human. I’m human.
“You have to block out the noise. I feel like I do a really good job of it.”
The opportunity arrived on less than three weeks’ notice after Stirling had only just returned from a holiday in Japan.
Despite the quick turnaround, accepting the fight was never in doubt.
Speaking previously to Home of Fight, Stirling revealed he had barely returned home before receiving the call.
“I’d just come off holiday mode in Japan.”
“I’m always training in the gym despite whatever I’m doing. That’s my routine.
“I’d just come off a massive bender and rolled into the weeks and got offered a fight. I just said, ‘Yeah bro, I’m keen, I’m training every day.
“I just came off the best camp of my life, so why wouldn’t I take it?”
That confidence stems from years of preparation.
While many prospects chase finishes and hype early in their careers, Stirling believes deliberately taking the slower path has made him a far more complete mixed martial artist.
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“I’ve taken a different approach. I’ve developed my skills, my game and tried things in the cage instead of just sticking to what I’m good at,” Stirling said.
“I believe that’s benefited me massively because now this is the time to put all my learnings and experiences to the test.”
He’s watched plenty of highly touted prospects burst onto the scene before fading away under pressure and believes patience has become one of his biggest strengths.
“If you get all your flowers early in your career… it gets to your head. You start to think you can do no wrong.
“When you haven’t done the building blocks to get there… those guys crumble under the spotlight.
“I’ve gone the slow-building route. I feel like I’ve gone the other way.”
That steady rise has already seen Stirling climb into the UFC’s top 10 in just his second calendar year.
“I’ve improved fast and I’ve built my whole life around this sport. It’s coming back to me big time.
“This is only my second calendar year in the UFC and I’m already about to jump straight into the top five.”
Part of that growth has come from becoming increasingly professional with every training camp.
Rather than relying on instinct alone, Stirling documents every aspect of his preparation so he can constantly refine his process.
“I’ve journaled everything – my weight, how I was feeling – everything was recorded,” he said.
“It’s just about being a professional. Those little things make life easier and they make fighting easier.
“You’d be surprised how many fighters just wing it.”
Away from fighting, however, the 28-year-old insists he’s simply someone who enjoys making the most of life.
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Whether it’s spending time with friends, travelling or creating content online, Stirling says maintaining that balance has become just as important as his training.
When asked about the biggest influences on his career, one name immediately came to mind.
“At the start, it was probably Conor McGregor, just following his early journey to becoming who he was,” Stirling said.
“I’d never heard anyone speak like that before. That’s what got me into it, that ‘me against the world’ sort of vibe, and I started to learn from that.”
As his career progressed, Stirling began looking closer to home, drawing inspiration from fellow New Zealander Israel Adesanya and the success of City Kickboxing.
“When I got into the sport, I started following Israel’s career and all the guys at City Kickboxing. It gave me something to blueprint my career on.”
“I tried to do what he was doing in terms of fighting, but also where he was going and the accomplishments he was achieving.”
But perhaps the biggest influence on his career today is himself: “I’ve also just tried to be my own role model… being my own favourite fighter.”
That mindset also carries over into the Octagon.
Rather than describing himself as a knockout artist, Stirling believes his biggest strength is remaining calm when things aren’t going his way.
“The ultimate champion isn’t just the hammer… he can also play the nail,” he said.
“When things are going wrong, they can make adjustments and do what it takes to win. I believe I have that trait.
“When other fighters get hurt, you see their body language change. That’s the beginning of the end.
“For me, I stay composed. I keep working. I keep downloading information and putting it together.”
Now he’ll get the chance to test that theory against one of the most respected veterans in the division.
Blachowicz became UFC light heavyweight champion in 2020 and famously handed Israel Adesanya the first defeat of his middleweight title reign when the Kiwi attempted to become a two-division champion.
Despite the resume standing opposite him, Stirling never doubted accepting the fight.
“My first thought was, ‘This is a fight I can win.’ I know I can beat him,” Stirling said.
“If I beat him with flying colours… that would speak levels about myself.
“It’s fighting a former champion… and I’m going to be the future.”
With youth on his side, Stirling believes the blueprint for victory is straightforward.
“My youth, my speed and my reactions are going to play a massive role.
“I can’t let this guy settle in and have his way.
“Some fighters let the moment get to them. I won’t.”
And when asked how he sees the biggest night of his career unfolding, Stirling didn’t hesitate.
“I see myself applying pressure when he starts to slow down.
“I think I’ll get the finish late in the second or third round.”
Before delivering one final statement that perfectly sums up his mindset heading into Sunday: “This is my way of shocking the world because I know this guy has a huge loyal fan base and nobody knows me.
“This is my time.”