Yes, we’ve dug up an old cliché for our headline. “Don’t blink” is the usual spiel people like to trot out whenever they’re expecting a big knockout in a fight. Often it proves to more hype than substance, but in the case of Suriname’s Jairzinho Rozenstruik, you’d be ready for something explosive.
Former kickboxer Rozenstruik has an impressive record of 76 wins, 8 losses as a professional kickboxer, with a staggering 64 of those wins coming by way of knockout.
And after transitioning to MMA, with the smaller four-ounce gloves, the man known as “Bigi Boy” has looked every bit as dangerous.
He’s fought nine times so far in his MMA career, winning all nine, and knocking out eight of them. But it isn’t just his KO record that stands out, it’s the way he has finished his opponents that has really made an impact.
Brazilian Junior Albini had never been KO’d in a fight, but Rozenstruik put him away with a head kick and punches in the opening minute of the second round.
Then he moved on to face Allen Crowder, who he dropped with a left jab and knocked out cold with ground strikes to register one of the fastest finishes in UFC history – NINE seconds.
Blink and you will miss it 👀
The second fastest KO in UFC heavyweight history just went down at #UFCGreenville!
Nine seconds was all it took Jairzinho Rozenstruik 😱 pic.twitter.com/8uIAj4obos
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) June 22, 2019
Those two wins demanded the UFC move Rozenstruik up in competition, and the Dutch-Surinamese fighter was matched with former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.
Incredibly, Rozenstruik’s concussive left jab found its mark again as he staggered Arlovski before finishing him with a huge shot.
It took “Bigi Boy” just 29 seconds to defeat the former UFC champ, and announced him as a serious threat to the division’s top names.
Now Rozenstruik will take on one of the most decorated heavyweights in MMA history. Alistair Overeem has won a host of titles throughout his MMA and kickboxing career, and is hoping to end his career on a high with the UFC heavyweight title.
But Rozenstruik can halt those plans with another power-punching performance on Saturday night in Washington DC.
Can “Bigi Boy” claim another big win, or will “The Reem” pump the brakes on the Rozenstruik hype? Whatever happens, don’t blink!
Find a full range of odds on all these fights over on paddypower.com