Navajo Stirling describes fighter breakdown before Dana White's Contender Series
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 28, 2026, 2:53 AM
Last updated Jul 28, 2026

Navajo Stirling recounted the emotional turmoil of Quemuel Ottoni before his scheduled bout against Kody Steele on Dana White's Contender Series. Stirling noted that Ottoni displayed aggressive behavior leading up to the fight but broke down moments before entering the Octagon, reportedly crying and removing his hand wraps multiple times. The fight was ultimately called off, leading to Steele securing his contract in a subsequent appearance. Stirling, unbeaten at 10-0, is set to face Jan Blachowicz on August 1 in Serbia.
- •Quemuel Ottoni experienced a mental breakdown before his scheduled fight.
- •Stirling recalled Ottoni's aggressive behavior during fight week.
- •Ottoni's bout was cancelled, and Steele later secured a contract.
- •Stirling has five UFC wins and is scheduled to fight on August 1.
- 2:53 AMYahoo Sports — Navajo Stirling recalls fighter having mental breakdown before DWCS bout
"Navajo Stirling saw a fighter in shambles right before his Dana White’s Contender Series bout.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- UFC•Jul 28, 2026, 10:46 PMAnthony Smith arrested on felony charges for domestic violence, terroristic threats, and false imprisonment
- UFC•Jul 28, 2026, 10:16 PM‘Prize fighter’ Mike Perry took ‘pay cut’ to fight ‘ big name’ Dillon Danis – ‘I had to take the opportunity’
- UFC•Jul 28, 2026, 10:15 PMFormer UFC title challenger Anthony Smith arrested on three felony charges
- UFC•Jul 28, 2026, 10:00 PMUFC Fight Night 283 pre-event facts: Can Blachowicz, Rakic end career-worst slumps?
UFC•Jul 28, 2026, 10:00 PMTUF 34’s Delphine Benouaich grew up fighting brothers long before pursuing UFC dream: ‘I began when I was born’- UFC•Jul 28, 2026, 5:50 PMJon Jones insists he never took steroids – 'and that was proven'
