Jairzinho Rozenstruik suffered a loss to Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Saudi Arabia, which has now led to his release from the organization. The former heavyweight contender has now blamed the loss on an odd element: paint fumes.
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"Let's talk about #UFCSaudiArabia.
I came to Riyadh to win and pull off the upset. After a strong fight week, I felt dizzy on Saturday due to the paint fumes. Then, just 70 seconds into the fight, I injured my left foot. The moment my switch kick landed on his elbow, I felt it instantly and knew the fight would play out differently than planned," Rozenstruik said in a post on Instagram.
Rozenstruik blamed his loss on paint fumes, though he did not state where those fumes came from. He also apparently injured his left foot during a switch kick in the fight, which also heavily impacted his performance.
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"At the end of 2018, I signed my first contract with the @ufc, embarking on an incredible journey. I've been honored to compete on the biggest stage, and I want to express my deepest gratitude to the UFC staff for their professionalism and support over the years. Thank you.
From being Rookie of the Year to becoming an MMA veteran, this has been an unforgettable adventure. While this chapter closes, my story is far from over. I will continue to fight, take on new challenges, and settle unfinished business in the cage."
Rozenstruik also goes into his UFC journey on the post, including taking the high road when it comes to his release.
What makes this release interesting is that Rozenstruik might find his way to somewhere like the PFL, which has switched to a single-elimination tournament, or the GFL, which is now doing a team-based fight format.
Despite his release, Rozenstruik is still a powerful heavyweight. Throughout his career with the UFC which started in 2018, he has big wins against Tai Tuivasa, Junior Dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, and more.
Rozenstruik has gone 2-2 in his last four fights, with wins against the aforementioned Tuivasa by split decision, and a KO/TKO win against Shamil Gaziev.
Going back a bit further, Rozenstruik is 5-5 in his last 10 fights. This could be the biggest reason why the UFC is willing to move on. Either way, Rozenstruik is now free to sign with any number of other MMA organizations.
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