TAMPA, Fla. – His promotional debut won’t have been the massive splash he was on the lookout for, however Navajo Stirling will discover the silver lining.
Stirling (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) opened up the principle card at UFC on ESPN 63 this previous Saturday with a unanimous choice win over Tuco Tokkos (10-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) at Amalie Enviornment in Tampa, Fla. The Metropolis Kickboxing product from Australia little doubt would have most well-liked a highlight-reel end, but in addition bought some key expertise.
“It was good to go quarter-hour for my growth and cage time simply to point out folks what I’ve bought,” Stirling, who has skilled with the likes of Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker and Alexander Volkanovski. “I believe we have been simply too wanting to hunt for the end, and I form of felt like he was in there to outlive. I didn’t really feel like he was actually making an attempt to win. I believe he was making an attempt to carry on.
“He was simply making an attempt to remain alive in there, and I believe he in all probability believed the hype a little bit bit. He’s in all probability going to be completely happy together with his efficiency that he bought out protected and alive. I didn’t get to complete in entrance of the followers like I wished for the massive debut on the principle card, but it surely’s all good.”
Stirling bought to the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Collection in September. He turned 27 in November, and now that his UFC debut is within the books with a win, he can begin occupied with his first full 12 months within the promotion.
He was an enormous 9-1 favourite towards Tokkos, however now desires to point out some issues that can put a little bit concern into the sunshine heavyweight division.
“I wish to battle a minimum of three (instances), minimal, (in 2025),” Stirling stated. “It’s all about simply maintaining the accidents off me, staying wholesome. That’s my aim yearly, is being within the gymnasium as a lot as I can. The extra time you might have spent on the mats, the higher you develop into – you don’t lose that move. … I wish to battle via my prime and use my youthful years to get as many fights as potential and to make myself related that method moderately than simply speak. I believe you’ll be able to speak (by) beating everybody up.”
Try Stirling’s full post-fight interview within the video above.
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