Stirling TKOs Blachowicz in 1st round at UFC Belgrade

BELGRADE, SERBIA - AUGUST 01: (R-L) Navajo Stirling of New Zealand punches Jan Blachowicz of Poland in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Belgrade Arena on August 01, 2026 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Ed Mulholland / UFC / Getty

A new light heavyweight contender has arrived.

Navajo Stirling made a statement in the UFC Fight Night co-main event Saturday, demolishing former champion Jan Blachowicz with a first-round TKO in Belgrade, Serbia.

The finish came at the 2:56 mark of the round.

NAVAJO STIRLING FLOORS JAN BLACHOWICZ DOWN 😳

[ #UFCBelgrade | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/kc8cafJwWl
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 1, 2026

Stirling remained undefeated, improving to 6-0 in the UFC and 11-0 as a professional. The 28-year-old New Zealander accepted the fight on about two weeks' notice.

After the win, Stirling called out Khalil Rountree Jr. and Paulo Costa.

Blachowicz, who's now riding a five-fight winless streak, hasn't gotten his hand raised since May 2022. The 43-year-old Pole suffered his first knockout loss since 2019.