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 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