UFC Fight Night: Jan Blachowicz vs Navajo Stirling Preview & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
A potential changing of the guard moment at light heavyweight sees former champ, Jan Blachowicz, take on rising prospect, Navajo Stirling.
Jan Blachowicz vs Navajo Stirling facts
What time are Jan Blachowicz and Navajo Stirling expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez? Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 283
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez main card
Uros Medic vs Daniel Rodriguez (Welterweight)
Jan Blachowicz vs Navajo Stirling (Light Heavyweight)
Aleksandar Rakic vs Marcin Tybura (Heavyweight)
Dusko Todorovic vs Robert Valentin (Middleweight)
Vlasto Cepo vs Gilbert Urbina (Middleweight)
Milos Janicic vs Noah Gugnon (Lightweight)
UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez prelims
Ludovit Klein vs Tofiq Musayev (Lightweight)
Oban Elliott vs Michael Oliveira (Welterweight)
Borislav Nikolic vs Mark Vologdin (Bantamweight)
Dennis Buzukja vs Bogdan Grad (Featherweight)
Mateusz Rebecki vs Kyle Prepolec (Lightweight)
Nina Milosevic vs Hailey Cowan (Women’s Bantamweight)
Jovan Leka vs Alexander Poppeck (Heavyweight)
Marina Spasic vs Stephanie Luciano (Women’s Strawweight)
Jan Blachowicz: The former champion looks to turn back another upstart prospect
Former 205 kingpin, Jan Blachowicz (29-11-2) was originally slated to face Bogdan Guskov in a rematch following their draw at UFC 323, only for “Hitman” to be yanked from the matchup to face Magomed Ankalaev last weekend. While he’s the owner of one of the best resumes in UFC light heavyweight history, Blachowicz has had a rough time of things since losing the belt to Glover Texeira, with the Polish slugger standing at 1-2-2 since then. He’s fought some absolute killers in that timeframe, but Father Time appears to be finally catching up with the “Legendary Polish Power.” At his best, Blachowicz is extremely well-rounded with brutal power in every limb, but while he’s still an incredibly tough out, he’s clearly lost a step at the age of 43.
Navajo Stirling: The undefeated CKB standout looks for the biggest win of his career
Undefeated in ten professional fights, Navajo Stirling (10-0) looks for the biggest win of his career as he steps in for Bogdan Grad. Fighting out of CKB, the 28 year old New Zealand prospect is enormous for the division at 6’4” and is an excellent kickboxer, with solid grappling ability in his back pocket. Perfect across five fights with the promotion to date, the primary knock against Stirling was his lack of finishing power but he appears to be coming into his own in that regard, earning brutal stoppages in his two most recent bouts. He’s coming off a win over Ion Cutelaba in last month, brutalizing the Moldovan with ferocious elbows and punches up against the cage to earn a second round finish.
Jan Blachowicz vs Navajo Stirling prediction
It’s not out of the realms of possibility that Blachowicz wins this. This is a significant step up in competition and easily the hardest fight of Stirling’s young career. The former champ still has that “Legendary Polish Power” in his fists and it’s not inconceivable that he bombs the Kiwi out with a monstrous hook in the early goings.
However, if this one gets out of the first round, it’s incredibly difficult to see Blachowicz winning this. The Pole has always had low output and that bodes really ominously against a fighter like Stirling, a high volume striker who averages more than 6 significant strikes a minute. He’s got a slight edge in height and reach, is extremely sound defensively, and is likely to have a major speed advantage over Blachowicz, allowing him to rack up points on the board with strikes at range.
Finishes over Ion Cutelaba and Bruno Lopes aren’t enough to convince me that Stirling builds in momentum and stops the former champ on the feet, but a later rounds TKO would not come as a huge shock. However, the more likely outcome is that Stirling consistently pings Blachowicz at range across three rounds to earn a convincing decision.
Prediction: Navajo Stirling to win
