Jairzinho Rozenstruik Seeks Summer Return, Open to Multiple Potential Foes

While Jairzinho Rozenstruik has a few names in mind after stopping the previously-undefeated Shamil Gaziev at UFC Fight Night 238, he isn’t willing to get fixated on chasing any one matchup.

After losing the opening frame due to a grappling exchange, Rozenstruik jabbed Gaziev for three rounds, compromising the Russian’s vision, leading to a TKO via retirement at the end of the fourth. Having fought only once in 2023, Rozenstruik hopes to stay more active with a return planned for this summer.

At Saturday’s post-fight press conference, the Surinamese heavyweight named Tai Tuivasa, Derrick Lewis, Sergey Spivak and interim champ Tom Aspinall as potential future opponents. Rozenstruik also doesn’t want to get tied down to one particular booking as it involves the risk of inactivity if the opponent isn’t ready.

“When I’d like to fight next would be close [to] July, August. And who I’d like to fight, you know what it is, I never say a name because then when that person doesn’t get time to fight then you stalk out of the game,” Rozenstruik said. “That’s why I never call someone out. But there are a couple of names that I didn’t face yet, for example Tai Tuivasa, Derrick [Lewis], Sergey Spivak, Tom Aspinall, name it. But I never call someone out cause I don’t wanna wait on their time. So I wanna be in shape, come back, who’s available? Let’s get in.”