Tag: UFC Saudi Arabia

Jairzinho Rozenstruik Released By UFC Following Gun-Shy Performance In Saudi Arabia

Heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s display in the Middle East this past weekend was enough to signal the end of his UFC journey. Rozenstruik featured on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, sharing the Octagon with a fellow power-puncher in Sergei Pavlovich. While that left many predicting a knockout one way or the other, fans […]

Heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s display in the Middle East this past weekend was enough to signal the end of his UFC journey.

Rozenstruik featured on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, sharing the Octagon with a fellow power-puncher in Sergei Pavlovich. While that left many predicting a knockout one way or the other, fans inside Riyadh’s anb Arena instead witnessed three rounds of lackluster action.

The Russian ultimately had his hand raised after getting the nod on all three scorecards, but neither man has been exempt from criticism in the aftermath.

For “Bigi Boy,” the bout marked his latest gun-shy performance. The Surinamese behemoth has produced plenty of highlights inside the Octagon, knocking out the likes of Andrei Arlovski, Alistair Overeem, and Chris Daukaus. But he’s also frequently been criticized for a perceived safe approach in other outings.

And the UFC evidently shares the frustration of the fanbase.

Just days on from the Feb. 1 event in Saudi Arabia, Rozenstruik has been released from his contract. After the @UFCRosterWatch account on X first flagged his removal from the roster, MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin confirmed the release.

Rozenstruik departs having gone 9-6 under the UFC banner. The 36-year-old featured in six main events and collected three Performance of the Night bonuses.

It remains to be seen what will come next for “Bigi Boy,” but fans are already speculating about a potential move to the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in the coming weeks and months.

UFC Middleweight Shuts Down Future Bout With Shara Magomedov After MVP Loss: ‘Don’t Want To Fight A Bad Fighter!’

Shara Magomedov’s stock has seemingly taken a considerable hit courtesy of his first professional defeat in mixed martial arts this past weekend. After a perfect 4-0 start to life on MMA’s biggest stage and a spinning backfist knockout last October that was among the best finishes of 2024, Magomedov hoped to continue that momentum into […]

Shara Magomedov’s stock has seemingly taken a considerable hit courtesy of his first professional defeat in mixed martial arts this past weekend.

After a perfect 4-0 start to life on MMA’s biggest stage and a spinning backfist knockout last October that was among the best finishes of 2024, Magomedov hoped to continue that momentum into his first assignment of 2025.

“Bullet” co-headlined this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia against welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page. The Dagestani was unable to find success on the feet against the unique game of “MVP,” ultimately falling to a convincing decision defeat.

In the aftermath, Magomedov put the result down to a “nightmarish health condition” that he claimed put the bout at risk during the lead-up to the event in Riyadh on Feb. 1. But that hasn’t prevented a sizable hit to his reputation. And that includes among fellow fighters.

After the Full Violence account on Instagram pitched Magomedov vs. Michel Pereira as a potential next fight for “Bullet,” the Brazilian quickly appeared in the comments to shut that down.

Michel Pereira

“(thumbs down) I don’t want to fight a bad fighter!”

Pereira himself is also booked for his first outing of the new year. Following a crushing defeat to Anthony Hernandez last October, “Demolidor” is set to return against Abus Magomedov at the UFC Fight Night in Kansas City on April 26.

Nassourdine Imavov Clear On What Awaits Him After ‘Cleaning Out’ UFC Middleweight Division: ‘Next Is The Belt’

UFC middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov has no doubt that a first championship opportunity should be in his immediate future following Saturday’s result. Imavov emerged as the biggest winner from the MMA leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia. The Frenchman headlined the UFC Fight Night card opposite his most prominent opponent to date, former two-time champion […]

UFC middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov has no doubt that a first championship opportunity should be in his immediate future following Saturday’s result.

Imavov emerged as the biggest winner from the MMA leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia. The Frenchman headlined the UFC Fight Night card opposite his most prominent opponent to date, former two-time champion Israel Adesanya.

While “The Last Stylebender” started well in his pursuit of a first win since 2023 and a rebound result after consecutive losses, Imavov turned the tables with one clean right hand seconds into round two. The shot, which badly wobbled Adesanya, ultimately set up the TKO finish.

With the win, “The Sniper” has now won four straight since a no contest against Chris Curtis. He still has five names inside the middleweight top 10 to add to his record’s win column, but the Frenchman believes he’s now ‘cleaned out’ the weight class.

Imavov shared that claim during his post-fight press conference in Riyadh, during which he also made it clear what he’s expecting to come as a result of Saturday’s main event knockout.

“I cleaned (out) the weight class in one year,” Imavov said. “Four fights, two wins against top-10 competition, two (finishes) against top-five competition. Next is the belt.”

In addition to Adesanya, Imavov has defeated Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze in recent times.

He’ll now pay close attention to next weekend’s UFC 312 headliner between middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland. While he intends to face the winner, “The Sniper” could have stiff competition for the next shot given the way Khamzat Chimaev dispatched Robert Whittaker last October.

Nassourdine Imavov Clear On What Awaits Him After ‘Cleaning Out’ UFC Middleweight Division: ‘Next Is The Belt’

UFC middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov has no doubt that a first championship opportunity should be in his immediate future following Saturday’s result. Imavov emerged as the biggest winner from the MMA leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia. The Frenchman headlined the UFC Fight Night card opposite his most prominent opponent to date, former two-time champion […]

UFC middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov has no doubt that a first championship opportunity should be in his immediate future following Saturday’s result.

Imavov emerged as the biggest winner from the MMA leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia. The Frenchman headlined the UFC Fight Night card opposite his most prominent opponent to date, former two-time champion Israel Adesanya.

While “The Last Stylebender” started well in his pursuit of a first win since 2023 and a rebound result after consecutive losses, Imavov turned the tables with one clean right hand seconds into round two. The shot, which badly wobbled Adesanya, ultimately set up the TKO finish.

With the win, “The Sniper” has now won four straight since a no contest against Chris Curtis. He still has five names inside the middleweight top 10 to add to his record’s win column, but the Frenchman believes he’s now ‘cleaned out’ the weight class.

Imavov shared that claim during his post-fight press conference in Riyadh, during which he also made it clear what he’s expecting to come as a result of Saturday’s main event knockout.

“I cleaned (out) the weight class in one year,” Imavov said. “Four fights, two wins against top-10 competition, two (finishes) against top-five competition. Next is the belt.”

In addition to Adesanya, Imavov has defeated Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze in recent times.

He’ll now pay close attention to next weekend’s UFC 312 headliner between middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland. While he intends to face the winner, “The Sniper” could have stiff competition for the next shot given the way Khamzat Chimaev dispatched Robert Whittaker last October.

Tom Aspinall Reacts To Lackluster Pavlovich vs. Rozenstruik: ‘These Heavyweight Fights Absolutely Stink!’

Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall was among those unimpressed by Sergei Pavlovich’s decision win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik this past Saturday. Two of the division’s biggest power punchers collided on the main card of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night, which marked the mixed martial arts leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia. While the crowd inside […]

Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall was among those unimpressed by Sergei Pavlovich’s decision win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik this past Saturday.

Two of the division’s biggest power punchers collided on the main card of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night, which marked the mixed martial arts leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia.

While the crowd inside the anb Arena anticipated a knockout, they were instead treated to three rounds of lackluster action between the Russian and Surinamese behemoths, with the former emerging victorious on the scorecards.

Many fans were quick to express their discontent with the two fighters, and they weren’t the only ones bemused by how the bout unfolded.

Aspinall took to his Instagram Stories to slam his former opponent and “Bigi Boy,” before calling for his return in order to bring “excitement” back to the weight class.

Tom Aspinall

“These heavyweight fights lately absolutely stink,” Aspinall wrote. “Let’s get some excitement back and stop holding it up.”

Aspinall has held the interim belt since a first-round knockout triumph over Pavlovich in November 2023. He’s since defended it in a rematch with Curtis Blaydes, which he also won by way of stoppage in the opening frame.

All the while, Jon Jones has sat on the heavyweight throne and repeatedly dismissed a unification showdown, instead choosing to face Stipe Miocic last November in New York City.

Dana White has insisted that he intends on booking Jones vs. Aspinall in 2025, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will come to fruition. In his most recent remarks, the UFC CEO admitted the promotion could “move on” from the matchup.

Michael Page Open To Going One Further After Middleweight Win At UFC Saudi Arabia: ‘Fight Someone Like Ji?í…’

UFC welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page doesn’t think his ability to compete with the best stops at 185 pounds following a successful venture up to middleweight this past Saturday. After a defeat to Ian Garry last summer stalled his charge up the 170-pound ladder, Page chose to open his year with a one-off assignment up […]

UFC welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page doesn’t think his ability to compete with the best stops at 185 pounds following a successful venture up to middleweight this past Saturday.

After a defeat to Ian Garry last summer stalled his charge up the 170-pound ladder, Page chose to open his year with a one-off assignment up a division.

The charismatic Londoner co-headlined the promotion’s second UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1, where he was tasked with taking the 0 of undefeated Dagestani Shara Magomedov.

As he did on debut at the expense of Kevin Holland 10 months ago, “MVP” showed his striking prowess, outpointing “Bullet” with his technical and unique standup arsenal across three rounds inside Riyadh’s anb Arena.

Moving forward, Page is planning to revive his charge toward the top in the welterweight division, though he is open to similar exciting matchups at middleweight down the line.

In fact, it would seem that a light heavyweight outing isn’t off the table.

“I’m the kind of person that would move up another weight division and fight someone like Ji?í (Procházka) because it’s an exciting fight,” Page said during his post-fight press conference. “Like two tornadoes clashing. So yeah, like I said from the beginning, I wanna make a lot of noise.

“I haven’t got the highlight I wanted just yet,” Page continued. “But if I can keep get getting some exciting matchups, then why not?”

Procházka was recently in action at UFC 311, where he put himself back in the title conversation with an emphatic performance and stoppage against a fellow former champion in Jamahal Hill.

Interestingly, the Czech star previously pondered a move down to the middleweight class after a second loss to current light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira.

“BJP” recently addressed that possibility again, leaving the door open to a future at 185 pounds should he first reclaim the 205-pound gold.