Undefeated UFC light heavyweight prospect Navajo Stirling had a triumphant promotional debut but didn’t impress fans after failing to secure an anticipated finish.
Navajo Stirling, one of City Kickboxing’s rising stars, earned a shot in the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this year. He earned a wild knockout over Phillip Latu in September to secure a contract and was hyped as potentially the ‘next big thing’ at 205lbs.
Stirling entered the Octagon against Tuco Tokkos a significant betting favorite. But despite outlanding Tokkos by a significant margin, especially with body shots, he wasn’t able to finish an exhausted Tokkos as the fight went on.
Leading up to his promotional debut, Israel Adesanya called Stirling a potentially better version of himself. It was a big statement from the former middleweight champion and immediately drew hordes of MMA fans towards Stirling.
A Stirling knockout win was a highly-bet option in many sportsbooks ahead of UFC Tampa, especially after his DWCS performance. But, he ended up coasting to a unanimous decision victory and despite the win, left fans unfulfilled with his showing.
Undefeated Navajo Stirling’s up-and-down UFC debut prompts fan hate
UFC fans on X gave less-than-glowing reviews of the highly-touted prospect’s Octagon debut.
“Navajo Stirling was -200 to win by knockout and hasn’t even come close yet really. I’m not impressed,” one fan said.
“Navajo Stirling is a complete f***ing garbage fighter, someone needs to get in the ring and legit **** him.”
“Navajo Stirling looks like my pro clubs player.”
“RIP to anyone who bet a Navajo Stirling KO. Dude is not very good.”
“Stirling fought a scrub and couldn’t get the finish… not impressed by this dude.”
“What a snooze fest!”
“Putting that on the main card in 2024 is a f***ing disgrace.”
“Cut both.”
Stirling moves to 6-0 in his professional career with the win at UFC Tampa. He’s a name to watch in the light heavyweight division as 2025 draws close, although he’ll need to do more in his next performance to earn more love from fans.
Israel Adesanya is set to return against surging middleweight at UFC Riyadh
Adesanya, one of Stirling’s primary training partners, will return to the Octagon at UFC Riyadh against Nassourdine Imavov in February. It’s the former middleweight champion’s first non-title UFC bout since a UFC 234 win over Anderson Silva.
Adesanya lost to UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 earlier this year. For the first time in his MMA career, Adesanya has lost consecutive fights, after losing the belt to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
After the win at UFC Tampa, it’s uncertain when Stirling will return to the Octagon against another rising light heavyweight. Before the win over Tokkos, Stirling won four consecutive fights by TKO/KO, going the distance one prior time in his MMA run.
Stirling’s performance at UFC Tampa shows that the promising light heavyweight still needs to develop to live up to the immense hype. With Adesanya in his inner circle, expect Stirling to improve quickly inside the Octagon.