DWCS 71 Winner Navajo Stirling Ready to Begin His UFC Dream

LAS VEGAS – Navajo Stirling is ready for the big stage after Dana White’s Contender Series 71. Stirling (5-0) knocked out Phillip Latu (6-2) with a thunderous left hand Tuesday in their light heavyweight bout at the UFC Apex to earn a UFC contract.

City Kickboxing’s Stirling said nerves were not a factor and he felt right at home in the octagon.

“This is all part of my dream and it’s coming together the way I planned,” Stirling told MMA Junkie and other reporters Tuesday at a post-fight press conference. “I feel like I’m meant to be here.”

“For me, it’s like I can finally do what I signed up for, I can fight people. Opportunities are rare where I come from, so now that I can be in the big leagues and fight all the best guys, it’s like finally, my dream can begin.”

Stirling was competing for the third time in just four months and never doubted he would achieve the greatest moment of his career.

“I’ve talked about my game for so long that I tried to put as much pressure on as I could,” Stirling said. “I know where I’m going, so I just tried to take as much pressure on as I could, and just cooked those boys.”