Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s UFC journey has come to an abrupt end. A former kickboxing star with 64 knockouts, he stormed into the UFC in 2019. His debut? A second-round TKO over Junior Albini—pure fireworks. From there, he ran through big names: Andrei Arlovski, Alistair Overeem, and Junior Dos Santos.

But in MMA, the tide turns fast. After a rough night at UFC Saudi Arabia against Sergei Pavlovich, the unthinkable happened—Rozenstruik got cut. Just like that. No more UFC. But why? What pushed Dana White and the promotion to make this shocking call?

Jairzinho Rozenstruik axed from the UFC as Dana White dubs UFC Saudi Arabia clash a “horrible fight”

The news of Jairzinho’s Rozenstruik’s release sent shockwaves through the MMA world. A top-10 heavyweight, gone just like that? But one look at his most recent performance, and the UFC and Dana White’s decision becomes clearer.

At UFC Saudi Arabia, ‘Bigi Boy’ faced off against Sergei Pavlovich riding the momentum of a two-fight win streak. Fans expected an all-out war between the two heavyweight titans, but the fight turned out to be less than thrilling. The result? A unanimous decision loss for ‘Bigi Boy’ and, perhaps worse, an unimpressed Dana White.

At the post-fight press conference, the UFC boss held nothing back as he stated, “Horrible, horrible fight. Listen, we can say the fight sucked, but Sergei won. It wasn’t pretty; it wasn’t fun to watch, and it was the only fight all night to get booed.”

And so, Jairzinho Rozenstruik found himself exiting the UFC with a 9-6 record in the promotion. While respectable, it clearly wasn’t enough in a division desperate for fresh contenders. ‘Bigi Boy’ had even headlined six UFC Fight Night cards. But for every highlight reel finish, there were frustrating performances—fights where he hesitated, struggled with grappling, or got outclassed by superior strikers. So, where does the Surinamese fighter go from here?

What’s next for ‘Bigi Boy’ after UFC exit? 

Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s departure from the UFC has left fans speculating about his next move. His recent loss to Sergei Pavlovich—widely criticized as a lackluster performance—may have played a role in his exit, but that doesn’t mean the knockout artist is out of options. Heavyweights with his kind of power tend to find new opportunities, whether in promotions like PFL, Bellator, or even a return to kickboxing.

One intriguing possibility is a move to the Professional Fighters League (PFL), especially given that former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou now fights under its banner. Rozenstruik suffered a devastating knockout loss to Ngannou at UFC 249, and a rematch in PFL could be a major draw. With PFL’s growing presence and lucrative tournament format, ‘Bigi Boy’ might find both financial incentives and a shot at redemption.

Another potential destination is the Global Fight League (GFL), an upcoming MMA organization set to debut in April 2025. Originally announced as the World Fight League (WFL), GFL is structured around city-based teams and recently held its first draft. The league has already reportedly signed former UFC heavyweights like Fabricio Werdum, Andrei Arlovski, and Frank Mir. Rozenstruik’s addition to this roster could not only boost the league’s credibility but also offer him fresh competition among seasoned veterans.

What do you think is the next chapter for Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s combat sports journey? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!