5 Defining Moments: Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Following two successful spectator-fueled outings—a pay-per-view spectacle and the recently concluded event in Mexico City—the Ultimate Fighting Championship heads back to the routine setting of the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. UFC Fight Night 238 on Saturday features a stacked fight card headlined by a fascinating heavyweight tilt.

The event sees several preliminary card pairings that have explosive potential and “Fight of the Night” upside, while the main card is flush with matchups no one afford to miss. The top billing presents a clash between No.12-ranked heavyweight contender Jairzinho Rozenstruik and undefeated upstart Shamil Gaziev looking to make a statement as they make the walk for the first time in 2024.

Rozenstruik looks to kick off his 2024 campaign with the objective of securing a highlight-reel finish or dominant performance. A dynamic kickboxer who hits like a freight train, “Bigi Boy” has secured exciting knockout wins against legends like Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem and Andrei Arlovski.

Rozenstruik now aims to hold the fort in the rankings by stopping Gaziev in emphatic fashion. Ahead of his clash, we examine five of the defining moments that have shaped his career to this point:

1. Planted in Combat

Rozenstruik grew up in Suriname, a small country on the northeastern coast of South America, where soccer and basketball were culturally embraced sports. “Bigi Boy” stood out because of his size, which led a coach to recommend getting in some combat training from a nearby kickboxing gym. A young Rozenstruik began training in a gym called Rens Project and soon was discovered by Michael Babb, a coach from the Vos Gym in Amsterdam. Under Babb’s tutelage, he came out for the House of Legends molded under the guidance of Ivan Hippolyte. Rozenstruik embarked on his sporting journey with kickboxing. He competed in 85 bouts and prevailing in 76 of them, 64 by knockout.

2. Spectacular Rise in MMA

It is rare for fresh faces in the UFC heavyweight division to slip under the radar, but Rozenstruik’s case is one of the rare exceptions. He started his professional mixed martial arts journey in May 2012, recording six straight victories, with five emphatic finishes, before he signed with the UFC. However, his debut fight against Junior Albini back in February 2019 went largely unnoticed since he signed discreetly with the organization. Nevertheless, the low-key debut belied the explosive talent that would send a ripple through the MMA community. Following the debut, he racked up three more explosive victories, cracking skulls, turning heads and drawing crowds. While victories over Allen Crowder and the aforementioned Arlovski put the heavyweight division on notice, it was his fifth-round knockout of a former title challenger in Overeem that punctuated his veritable talent.

3. Flipping the Script

In any combat sport, knockout stories unfold with the potential for glory or downfall, with fighters emerging either as the victor or the vanquished. Rozenstruik’s excellent run in 2019 propelled him to within touching distance of a championship opportunity. However, future UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou had other plans. Ngannou sent Rozenstruik crashing to the canvas twenty seconds into their matchup at UFC 249. Having handed Rozenstruik the first defeat of his career, Ngannou went on to challenge Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight throne in a rematch at UFC 260. He won the fight by second-round knockout. With this loss, Rozenstruik set foot on a rugged path, marked by several crests and troughs.

4. Redemption Road

The true character of a fighter shines through when he bounces back with strength after a loss. Following a devastating loss to Ngannou, the 35-year-old Rozenstruik locked horns with a former UFC heavyweight champion in dos Santos at ufc 252. He responded in the best way possible, scoring a second-round TKO victory, courtesy of a left hand to the jaw, followed by a huge right, which dropped his opponent to the mat.

5. Making Bank

Following the victory over dos Santos, Rozenstruik endured four losses and emerged triumphant in two bouts in six Octagon outings. While the dominance of “Bigi Boy” has certainly diminished in stature, he has been able to record two “Performance of the Night”-worthy finishes over Augusto Sakai and Chris Daukaus. At UFC Fight Night 189, he won the fight against Sakai via TKO in the closing seconds of the first round. The next victory against Daukaus came merely 23 seconds into the first round. Vintage Rozenstruik was on display in that fight, as the Surinamese kickboxer connected with a left jab and followed up with a knee to the face that dropped his opponent. Determined to finish his adversary, Rozenstruik unleashed a barrage of strikes on Daukaus, forcing the stoppage.