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UFC Belgrade video: Navajo Stirling tears through Jan Blachowicz in first round, calls out Khalil Rountree and Paulo Costa

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UFC Belgrade video: Navajo Stirling tears through Jan Blachowicz in first round, calls out Khalil Rountree and Paulo Costa

A new contender has emerged at light heavyweight after Navajo Stirling took out former champion Jan Blachowicz in the first round at UFC Belgrade.

Despite taking the fight on short notice, Stirling looked more than ready, especially after the dropped Blachowicz with a perfectly timed right had that sent the Polish powerhouse to the canvas. From there, Stirling was relentless with his ground and pound as he blasted Blachowicz with elbows until referee Marc Goddard stopped the fight with the end coming at just 2:56 in the opening round.

“I think about fighting, it all starts up here [in the head], you can make it happen,†Stirling said after his win. “It's an absolutely honor to be able to share the ring with a former champion like Jan Blachowicz.

“Honestly, we're all fighting each other so there can all be one winner but I'm a big fan of Jan. Just sticking to the game plan, I've got the best coaches in the world.â€

The light heavyweights were jockeying for position early with Blachowicz landing the first big shot after a slick jab caught Stirling off guard and rattled him briefly. Stirling had blood trickling down his face afterwards as he reset on the feet.

A moment later, Stirling uncorked a huge right of his own that hammered Blachowcicz as he was wobbled and stumbled backwards towards the canvas.

As Blachowicz hit the ground, Stirling jumped on top of him and immediately started blasting away with elbows including one that sliced open the former light heavyweight champion. The assault continued with Stirling just dropping bombs until the referee saw enough and rescued Blachowicz from further harm.

Afterwards, Stirling looked up the rankings and called for a fight against one of the top contenders in the division for his next outing.

“If [Khalil] Roundtree or [Paulo] Costa want to fight … I'll whoop that ass.â€

In a division that needs some excitement, Stirling is providing that, especially with his past two wins. As for Blachowicz, the former champion falls to 0-3-2 in his past five fights and at 43 years old, the clock might be ticking on his time left in the sport.

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MMA

UFC 333 press conference video

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UFC 333 press conference video

At the UFC 333 press conference, the top four fighters in Saturday's event will answer questions from the media Thursday morning.

In the main event, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski faces Movsar Evloev. UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan squares off against Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event.

The UFC 333 press conference is expected to begin at 9 a.m. ET.

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TJ Dillashaw predicts Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili trilogy at UFC 333

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TJ Dillashaw predicts Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili trilogy at UFC 333

Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw has given his thoughts on the trilogy fight between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333.

On Saturday night, Petr Yan will put his UFC bantamweight championship on the line when he goes up against Merab Dvalishvili, the same man he beat for the belt last year, in the third and potentially final fight in their series.

RELATED: Sean O'Malley sends Petr Yan a cold message ahead of UFC 333 trilogy fight

Dvalishvili won the first bout before Petr Yan came back and improved dramatically to win the rematch. At this point, it's hard to say which way it's going to swing given how talented both fighters are.

In a recent interview, however, TJ Dillashaw had some interesting views on Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili 3.

TJ Dillashaw on Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili 3

“I just think that Yan really had the answers. Yan looked fantastic. Takedown defense was amazing and a guy that fights like Merab, looking for those takedowns, that's his path to victory just relentlessly grinding and getting those takedowns. If he can't get you down and it's failed shot after failed shot, then his gas tank is never going to be as good as the guy defending shots, even if you are the more in-shape fighter. We'll see if four fights in one year had a factor, but I think Yan just has the game plan and looked really good.â€

“I am leaning towards Yan. Tough fight. It really is. I think he had all the answers, and that confidence builds. He's had some losses, but those losses were (weird). His losses are minuscule losses, and then that last fight, I think just builds so much confidence that he has what it takes. The answer for Merab, the cardio for Merab. I'm leaning towards Yan, but I think it's going to be a banger of a fight again. Merab is never going to stop and you have to beat the bricks off him to win.â€

Quotes via MMA Junkie

Who are you backing to leave UFC 333 with the title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


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Brendan Allen says he & Khamzat Chimaev will fight only for UFC gold

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Brendan Allen says he & Khamzat Chimaev will fight only for UFC gold
Brendan
Allen says he and Khamzat
Chimaev have agreed to fight each other only if a title is on
the line.

Allen submitted Christian
Leroy Duncan in his last bout, extending his
Ultimate Fighting Championship winning streak to four. The
victory strengthened “All Inâ€'s case for a title shot and raised
the possibility of a clash with his friend, Chimaev. However, Allen
said they have an agreement governing a potential matchup.

Brendan Allen explains title-only fight agreement with Khamzat
Chimaev

Allen discussed the arrangement during an appearance on MMA Junkie
Radio, saying their friendship wouldn't prevent them from sharing
the Octagon in a championship bout.

“We have the agreement that we're not going to fight each other
unless it's for gold,†Allen said. “So, if it's for the belt, then
we're gonna fight. Fighting for the belt changes my life, and it
changes my family's. Everyone that I've ever come in contact with
knows that about me: if it's for a belt, there's no questions
that's gonna be asked from my end.â€

Chimaev suffered his first professional defeat in May, losing the
UFC middleweight title to Sean
Strickland at
UFC 328. “Borz†has sought a rematch, but Nassourdine
Imavov appears positioned to receive the next title shot.
Meanwhile, Allen called out former champion Dricus Du
Plessis after beating Duncan at
UFC Vegas 122.

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