Can Navajo Stirling put out the Cutelaba volcano?

A left hook, a body hitting the canvas, and a former world champion screaming in the front row like he just robbed a bank. That’s how Navajo Stirling introduced himself to the world last September. At 26, this Maori powerhouse steps into the octagon with the composure of a Buddhist monk and lightning in his fists. No easing into it for the prodigy: for his official debut, the UFC is throwing him straight into a Co-Main Event against Ion Cutelaba. A baptism by fire, Moldovan style.

🥊 Quick Stats

Name: Navajo Stirling
Record: 5-0-0
Claim to fame: Two-time winner of "King in the Ring," the ultra-violent kickboxing tournament that launched the careers of Israel Adesanya and Carlos Ulberg.

The High-Five Block

Last 5 results:

• ✅ Phillip Latu — KO (Punch) Round 2 (2:21) | DWCS (09/10/2024)
• ✅ Tuco Tokakos — TKO (Punches) Round 1 (1:45) | Shuriken Fight Series 17 (2024)
• ✅ Sam Tohi — Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) Round 1 (3:12) | Shuriken Fight Series 16 (2023)
• ✅ Jack Tuave — Decision (Unanimous) Round 3 (5:00) | Shuriken Fight Series 14 (2023)
• ✅ Michael Siale — TKO (Punches) Round 1 (2:30) | Shuriken Fight Series 12 (2022)

The Origin Story

Wellington, New Zealand. The wind, the rain, and a deep-rooted Maori culture. Before shaking up the MMA world, Stirling cut his teeth on the kickboxing circuit. Not for cheap trophies, but to survive "King in the Ring." The concept? Eight men, one night, one survivor. Stirling cleaned out the tournament twice, at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. That’s a serious statement. When he walked through the doors of City Kickboxing in Auckland, the legendary Eugene Bareman quickly realized he had a raw diamond on his hands. An elite striker with a natural "lights out" switch.

Auckland lightning ready to strike Vegas

September 2024. Las Vegas hosts Season 8 of the Dana White's Contender Series. Stirling faces Phillip Latu. Many predicted a war of attrition. Stirling, however, opted for surgical precision with his elbows and knees. In the second round, he uncorked a laser of a left hook. Latu folded, lights out. In the crowd, his training partner Israel Adesanya jumped out of his chair, going wild. In 5 pro fights, Stirling has never tasted defeat and has a finish rate of 80%. The UFC gets it: they aren't testing him with pushovers; they're throwing him straight at a Moldovan wrecking ball to see if his chin can hold up.

Useless Trivia

• He shares daily sparring sessions with Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker, and Carlos Ulberg—easily the most dangerous roommate situation in the Southern Hemisphere.
• His brutal KO on the DWCS went viral on TikTok, not just for the strike, but for Adesanya’s insane reaction caught on camera.
• Despite being a pure striker, he has a first-round submission win (rear-naked choke), just to remind everyone he knows his way around the ground game.

The MMX Take

Ion Cutelaba. "The Hulk." A guy who enters the arena painting himself green and looking to take your head off the second the ref says "Fight." This is the perfect litmus test. Cutelaba is going to try to impose his Greco-Roman wrestling, pin Stirling against the cage, and turn this into a dirty brawl. That’s where the key stat comes in: 100% takedown defense for Stirling in his breakout fight. If he survives the Moldovan’s initial two-minute blitz, the fight changes complexion. Cutelaba tends to gas out quickly. Against a City Kickboxing sniper with 58% striking accuracy, poor cardio is professional suicide. Stirling has the composure, the distance management, and that counter left hook just waiting for Cutelaba to drop his guard. Our pick? A masterclass in composure, a gassed-out Cutelaba, and a clean KO in the second round. Put that on your betting slip.

Navajo Stirling is on track to become the next big thing in the UFC light heavyweight division. Do you think he’ll win his next fight? Come place your bets and challenge your buddies on MMX.

📋 On the same card: Check out all the profiles for UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi