'I can create chaos' - UFC fighter Navajo Stirling

RNZ News

10-05-2025

Navajo
Photo:
Fire Fire
Navajo Stirling vs Ivan Erslan
Light Heavyweight bout
UFC 315 prelims
Approx 12pm Sunday May 11
Live blog updates on RNZ
Navajo Stirling isn't here to take part.
The 27-year-old UFC light heavyweight will make his pay-per-view debut this Sunday against Croatian Ivan Erslan.
The Kiwi expects a quick night at the office.
"I'm gonna chin him. I'm gonna chin him early and go for the finish," he said.
Stirling understands stardom in the UFC is determined by far more than just wins in the cage.
"I am destined for the big, bright lights and if you want to be a superstar, you can't be shy. You can't stick to your typical Kiwi mindset of just sliding under the radar. It doesn't work like that. This the fight business."
The City Kick Boxing product said he feels much more comfortable in the world's most prestigious combat sports organisation, having picked up a knockout win over Phillip Latu on Season 8 of Dana White's Contender Series, followed up by a slick decision victory over Tukco Tokkos in December.
"It's definitely home. You have to really soak up these moments and put stuff out there because you'll get burned, there's some dogs here, you'll get burned and you feel the energy in the rooms, we're all out to get ours and almost like whose mindset is stronger, who's stronger? I think the mental game plays a big part in these fights."
Stirling said in every room he shares with UFC fighters, he feels he is the strongest.
"I was surprised at this level the kind of nerves you see of some of these high level fighters, they are s******g themselves, and it's crazy to me. It's crazy to me. I thought everyone would be like me, but I guess not."
While the UFC was always his ultimate destination, Stirling said he has been actively living the dream since he was 19.
"I've known my purpose for such a long time and that is the dream. Some people will take certain things for granted. I was loving my life when I was fighting on local cards. I was still loving every moment. Trying to get the experience to get the job, that was the hardest part."
Navajo Stirling after winning King in the Ring
Photo:
Supplied, The Lion Pit gym
With UFC 315 set for Montreal, Stirling said he has acclimatised well to North American conditions.
"I came in a little bit earlier, so I've had heaps and nights to settle in and get used to the time zone. I wish I could have brought the PlayStation with me, but no, it's all business on the road, so it's all good. I'm in wicked shape. I'm getting stronger as I get older. I'm almost coming into my physical prime."
He has a stark warning for Erslan.
"I mean I can do it all. I can be disciplined, I can create a bit of chaos and make it fun to watch. I go out to fight. I don't even worry about the entertainment factor. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't entertaining. Everyone knows how good I am, I just go out there and do my thing. I'm really good at getting the butts in seats."
Stirling isn't predicting a long night in the octagon.
"This is definitely a test for people to see if I'm legit. I need that street cred right now. I've relinquished all the fame and title that I had in Australasia," he said.
"I'm in the bottom of the pit and I like the feeling of clawing my way to the top. I want to just rise the ranks, not through talking, but through showing."
Beginning his combat career in his late teens, Stirling knew after his first fight that this was the game for him.
"I loved the feeling being in there, that primal way of going against someone else. I meet people that complain all the time about their lives and I knew that I was meant to be something."
With the career of Kiwi legend Israel Adesanya winding down, Stirling is all too aware of the vacant spotlight.
"There would be no Navajo without Israel Adesanya and CKB, he was one of the guys I saw and was like, 'whoa, there's a path there'. If people compare me to him, that's good because that let's me know I'm up there with the greats. I don't mind slotting into that role and all I know is I want to do it my way. Be myself and people are going to love me."
Also at CKB, another surging light heavyweight who has been thrust into the title picture, Carlos 'the Black Jag' Ulberg.
"I think he's going to be the champion this year. I definitely believe he will be. Obviously, I'm teammates with Carlos, I don't really want to fight him, I'll do whatever I can not to, but if it does come down to it and we are the top of the table at the same time, then we'll run it and see what it is."
Though not exactly a household name as yet, Stirling anticipates his star to rise significantly.
"I'm at the bottom right now, so I've got to build myself up. I just want to be known as a guy that was a hardworking savage. I was not born to be this, but that I made myself into this. I crafted and moulded myself to everything. I never had no handouts, nothing. I beat anyone that I came across."
But win or lose on Sunday, Stirling will have no regrets about his chosen path.
"There's people out there with more money than me, But one thing is, man people can't do what I do. No money can pay for the kind of things that I can do."
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