Jairzinho Rozenstruik didn’t expect to get his walking papers from the UFC.
Eight knockout wins, six main event bouts and a positive record didn’t keep Jairzinho Rozentruik from getting his walking papers from the UFC.
The heavyweight was released from the promotion earlier this year after a unanimous decision loss to former title challenger and top contender Sergei Pavlovich in Saudi Arabia. It was a surprise to many since Rozentruik (15-6) had a long history with the promotion and was on a two-fight winning streak prior to the loss to Pavlovich. Among those surprised was Rosentruik himself.
“Definitely (it was a surprise), especially because there was no warning or nothing,” Rozentruik told MMA Junkie. “I got home from the fight. I was tired because I think it’s a 12- or 13-hour difference. I was sleeping and my friends and family were calling me and they’re asking if it’s true and all of this. I don’t know anything, so I called the manager, we spoke, and then I found out. After, I look at my emails and I see I had a few emails from the UFC.
“But if there’s no more business for me in the UFC, why should I complain about it? It was a business relationship. So if there’s no more business with you, I think you should warn me about it, and be like, ‘That’s it for us,’ and then we part ways. But that’s the way it goes. I don’t think it was professional, and I don’t want to put too much emotional feelings behind it. I had a good time with the UFC. The UFC was good to me. I’m honored to be a part of the history I built with them, and other than that, we have to move forward.”
Since the release, Rozentruik signed and debuted for Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship. He picked up a TKO win over Victor Cardoso in June, and is set to return Aug. 29 in Miami to fight Rob Perez for the inaugural heavyweight title.
The Surinamese fighter is focused on his work at Dirty Boxing Championship, but is definitely not done fighting MMA. He said he wants to continue his MMA career, and is even open for a UFC return.
“If there’s need of my professional performance in the UFC, then why not?” Rozenstruik said. “You can be in the best combat sports company that’s ever existed. If that’s the case, why not?”
