For some, the decision to move one’s life to a new city in a bid to chase a dream might be a tough leap to take.
Navajo Stirling is not one of those people.
As the 27-year-old light heavyweight prepares for his third UFC appearance, against Brazilian Rodolfo Bellato in Perth on Sunday, he says every move he has made is leading to something bigger.
“It’s just another step on my pathway to greatness, path to gold. I want to be a champion and I’ve got to smash everybody to get there. This is just another step.”
Stirling has quickly made a statement with the world’s top mixed martial arts promotion, first with an emphatic knockout win on Dana White’s Contender Series to earn a contract before two strong unanimous decision wins to open his account.
Earning a place on the UFC roster was a driving factor in his decision to relocate from Wellington to Auckland a little more than four years ago to join City Kickboxing and train with UFC-level athletes and coaches.
“It was never a tough decision,” he says of making the move.
“For some people it’s quite hard to give up their girlfriends or family time or whatever it is. It’s hard for them and I’m looking at them like, mate, if I was to come across you, I would run through you, because I don’t care about all that stuff.
“I’m just young, hungry, and I’m a dog, man. I’ll just come. I just want to rip in. I feel like I find a lot of people that hesitate. I see it and I’m walking all over you.”
Stirling has proven as much in his career. After a decorated run in kickboxing, including two King in the Ring titles, Stirling has amassed a 7-0 record in professional MMA, with his sights firmly set on climbing through the UFC ranks.
At the heart of it all is a simple love for his work. While he wants to work his way to the top of the division, Stirling welcomes any and all challenges, with the hope of finishing 2025 and 2026 with four fights in each year.
The bout against Bellato, who has a win, a draw and a no-contest in three uFC appearances, will be Stirling’s second assignment this year, after making his promotional debut in December last year, and is expected to present the Kiwi with his biggest test in the division to date.
“I feel like with like a lot of the people in the division, they just kind of pick and choose and, you know, wait it out. But I don’t care. I think I can beat everyone and I’m just going to have to prove it,” he says.
“Obviously, I’ve got to let things go through all the logistics of everything, but the coaches know I’m keen, I’m ready, I look after myself. I’ve sacrificed everything. I push everything aside - family, friends, whatever, hanging out, partying, all that stuff - I can put all that aside.
“I don’t care about a lot of stuff. I care about fighting and if I can just keep pushing myself, looking after myself, I’m going to be there.”
RAC Arena. Sunday, September 28.
Light heavyweight main event: Carlos Ulberg (3) v Dominick Reyes (8)
Heavyweight: Brando Peričić v Elisha Ellison
Light heavyweight: Navajo Stirling v Rodolfo Bellato
Middleweight: Cameron Rowston v Andre Petroski
Bantamweight: Michelle Montague v Luana Carolina
Heavyweight: Justin Tafa v Louie Sutherland
Lightweight: Tom Nolan v Charlie Campbell
Light heavyweight: Jimmy Crute v Ivan Erslan
Strawweight: Loma Lookboonmee (14) v Alexia Thainara
Welterweight: Jake Matthews v Neil Magny
Featherweight: Jack Jenkins v Ramon Taveras
Welterweight: Jonathan Micallef v Oban Elliott
Bantamweight: Colby Thicknesse v Josias Musasa
Lightweight: Jamie Mullarkey v Rolando Bedoya
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.