Kiwi Stirling steals show with spectacular KO to earn UFC contract

New Zealand may have unearthed its next MMA diamond in the form of light heavyweight Navajo Stirling.

The City Kickboxing product seized his opportunity on Dana White Contender Series with both hands, stealing the show with a spectacular walk-off second-round KO of previously undefeated Phillip Latu to leave the UFC boss with no choice but to offer Stirling a multi-fight contract on the spot.

"Obviously, Stirling looked incredible," White said, assessing his potential contract winners.

"He's 26 years old. He's 5-0. He's 6ft 4in. He's a true light heavyweight and he did impress me tonight.

"He was in there with a very tough guy who was mixing it up really well and he delivered.

"I'm interested. I want to see what he can do in the UFC."

The 26-year-old becomes the latest in a long line of King in the Ring kickboxing champion converts to step into the Octagon (after teammates Israel Adesanya, Carlos Ulberg, and Blood Diamond) and the newest from the proud Auckland fighter factory to earn a spot in MMA's premier promotion.

The result takes his undefeated MMA record to 5-0, with four of those contests finished inside the distance, while realising the dream that inspired his move north from Upper Hutt back in 2020.

"I knew it was coming," Stirling said of his knockout afterwards. "I knew I just needed to get his eyes on me and then I'd handle it from there.

He said he now has his sights set on making his official debut in the Octagon before the end of the year.

"I didn't really take too much damage. I've been active as this year. I've been trying to get fights since December. I was training right through Christmas.

"I'm ready to go."

Stirling came out of the gate strongly, controlling the range expertly and showing Latu a variety of strikes at different levels, clearly doing damage with his leg kicks.

Having comfortably banked round one, Stirling showed great patience as he awaited his opening in the second, which he eventually exploited with a searing left hand to punctuate a combination that sent his adversary prone to the canvas.

It capped a performance that could barely have been better scripted, making an undeniable impression of UFC president White, who lavished praise on Stirling before calling him forward to accept his new deal.

Stirling was one of three fighters to win a contract on Wednesday. Teammate and regional juggernaut Aaron Tau will try to replicate that feat next week, when he takes on Elijah Smith for a chance to win a deal of his own next Wednesday.