Jairzinho Rozenstruik is only looking towards the top of the heavyweight division.
Rozenstruik returned to the win column with a first-round TKO win over Augusto Sakai in the UFC Vegas 28 headliner last night. Despite what was an uneventful round overall, the Surinamese star was able to drop Sakai and end the contest with just one second remaining.
Similar to his win over Alistair Overeem where he won with just a second remaining in the fight, this time, Rozenstruik planned on picking up the pace in the last few seconds.
“Actually, I heard the clock and [head coach Michael Babb] say, ‘Hey, this is the last 15 seconds,’” Rozenstruik said at the post-fight press conference (via MMA Fighting). “So I picked it up and pushed the pace and I see he was moving too fast and then ‘bop’ and I put him down.”
After a run of two defeats in his last three outings, Rozenstruik is now looking to establish a winning streak.
As for who he wants next?
Anyone ranked above him as he mentioned a top-five opponent in his post-fight interview. Elaborating further, he also stated he has no preference over the opponent or their fighting style.
“Everybody that’s ranked above, it doesn’t matter what style,” Rozenstruik said. “If this guy’s a wrestler, then I have to wrestle and I have to do my kickboxing. If he’s a kickboxer, then I have to kickbox with him and maybe wrestle with him, so for me it doesn’t matter.
“I try to make myself more of an MMA fighter than just a kickboxer who’s doing MMA.”
Rozenstruik is currently ranked No. 6 in the division.