Blachowicz Faces Unbeaten Stirling After Guskov Switch

Jan Blachowicz will face unbeaten prospect Navajo Stirling at UFC Belgrade on Aug. 1 after his planned rematch with Bogdan Guskov fell apart. Guskov accepted a short-notice main event slot against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Abu Dhabi following Khalil Rountree's withdrawal, per Sherdog.

The former heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion told UFC News that the swap requires only minor adjustments. "I am doing this all my life," Blachowicz said. "It's a new opponent. I have a lot of respect for him, but it's just another fighter who I have to stop. I don't think about this mess around because I don't want to waste energy for that."

Blachowicz Seeks First Win Since 2022

The Polish veteran has gone four fights without a victory and fought to a majority draw with Guskov this past December. His last win came in May 2022 against Aleksandar Rakic. Stirling enters the co-main event with a spotless 10-0 record, making him a dangerous assignment for Blachowicz's comeback effort.

Blachowicz dismissed concerns about the late change, saying experience matters more than preparation time. "Okay, it's a new opponent; that's it," he said. "We do small changes and we are here to win the fight against him, or a different opponent doesn't matter." The bout marks a critical test for both fighters at 205 pounds.

Original reporting:

• sherdog.com — Jan Blachowicz’s comeback faces a dangerous new threat at UFC Belgrade