Jairzinho Rozenstruik (born 17 March 1988) is a Surinamese professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer who currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
He currently holds the record for second fastest knockout in the heavyweight division against Allen Crowder at UFC Fight Night 154.
2012
After he competed in kickboxing, he transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2012.
At the age of seventeen, Rozenstruik started training in a gym called Rens Project.
There he started to take kickboxing lessons and soon he was discovered by Michael Babb, a coach from the Vos Gym in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Trained by Babb, he came out for the House of Legends under the supervision of Ivan Hippolyte.
Rozenstruik started his combat sports career in kickboxing.
He won a total of 76 matches with 64 of them by knockout out of 85 he competed in.
In May 2012, Rozenstruik won his debut MMA fight against Evgeny Boldyrev at DRAKA MMA: Governor's Cup 7 in Vladivostok, Russia.
2013
In kickboxing, he is a former WLF Super Heavyweight Tournament Champion and a Superkombat World Grand Prix I 2013 Runner-Up.
As of 5 March 2024, he is #11 in the UFC heavyweight rankings.
Rozenstruik was born and raised in Paramaribo.
His parents were football fans and named him after the Brazilian star Jairzinho.
Rozenstruik played football and basketball before starting to train kickboxing at the age of seventeen in a local gym.
2017
In April 2017, after five years of focusing on his kickboxing career, Rozenstruik won an MMA match versus Engelbert Berbin during a regional promotion in Aruba.
2018
In April 2018, Rozenstruik signed a multi-fight contract with the Rizin Fighting Federation.
In May 2018, Rozenstruik won his promotional debut versus Andrey Kovalev at Rizin FF – Rizin 10 by split decision.
2019
Rozenstruik made his UFC debut on 2 February 2019, against Júnior Albini, replacing injured Dmitry Sosnovskiy, at UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2.
He won the fight via TKO in the second round.
Rozenstruik faced Allen Crowder on 22 June 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. The Korean Zombie.
He won the fight via knockout in round one.
This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Rozenstruik faced Andrei Arlovski on 2 November 2019, at UFC 244.
He won the fight via knockout in round one.
Rozenstruik faced Alistair Overeem, replacing Walt Harris due to the ongoing search for his missing step-daughter, on 7 December 2019, at UFC on ESPN 7.
He won the fight via knockout in round five.
2020
Rozenstruik was scheduled to face Francis Ngannou on 28 March 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced the event has been postponed.
The pair were rescheduled to meet on 18 April 2020, at UFC 249.
However, on 9 April Dana White, the president of UFC announced that the event was once again postponed and the bout eventually took place on 9 May 2020.
Rozenstruik lost the fight via knockout just 20 seconds into the first round.
Rozenstruik faced Junior dos Santos on 15 August 2020, at UFC 252.
He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.
Rozenstruik faced Ciryl Gane on 27 February 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane.
He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Rozenstruik faced Augusto Sakai on 5 June 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai.
He won the fight via knockout in the closing seconds of the first round.
This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Rozenstruik faced Curtis Blaydes on 25 September 2021, at UFC 266.
