Navajo Stirling brought his dedication and commitment to his UFC career to The Y, making it a truly special experience for his colleagues and the centre community.

After locating from Wellington to Auckland to focus on his fighting development at the renowned City Kickboxing gym, Navajo looked for some work to fit in around his training schedule. His brother had worked as a fitness trainer at The Y Lynfield, so when Navajo heard there was a job available as a basketball coach, he followed in his brother’s footsteps.

He absolutely thrived during his time at the centre – becoming a hugely popular member of the team with a growing following of fans from the young people at nearby Lynfield College, and even among some of the Dads bringing their children in for recreation! It wasn’t unusual to notice a few bumps and bruises when he worked the day after a training fight.

Heather Leah, The Y Lynfield’s Centre Manager, comments about the current New Zealand mixed martial arts champion: “Navajo was loved – by his colleagues and by the community. It’s incredible to believe that just three months ago the members would see him at reception, and now they’re seeing him on the TV screens in the gym!”.

Heather goes on to note how admirable it was that Navajo was a reliable, dedicated and supportive member of the team at The Y, while he was training to be the best fighter in the world, “You could absolutely understand that work would come a distant second to his training, but he was always on-time and trustworthy. We noticed how incredibly clever he was – he only had to be shown something once and he’d remember it – I believe this is really important and will take him far in his journey as an elite athlete”.

The 26-year-old dynamo has been climbing the ranks of the local mixed martial arts scene, and last Sunday December 15, made his official debut facing Tuco Tokkas in Tampa, Florida. It’s a huge leap from coaching basketball, but if anyone can make it, it’s Navajo.

From the basketball courts of Lynfield to the high-stakes world of UFC, Navajo’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. His story is a testament to hard work, dedication, and the courage to chase your dreams, no matter how big they are.

He has been quoted as saying, “I have always believed myself to be a world-class fighter. I’ve carried myself like a professional since I was 19. To finally be there, to show everyone on live television, is a big thing for me and my family”.

The Y Lynfield community are incredibly proud of Navajo’s success so far, which includes winning his first fight in Tampa, Florida on December 15 by unanimous decision. We believe that his humility and stoicism will continue to take him far in the UFC world. Wherever he ends up, Navajo knows that he has left a permanent legacy in the lives of the Lynfield team.