Former UFC heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik has signed with Europe's Fight Nation Championship and will make his MMA return at FNC 37 in Munich on February 6, 2027. The Surinamese knockout artist has not competed in MMA in roughly 20 months, since a unanimous decision loss to Sergei Pavlovich ended his UFC tenure. A debut opponent has not been revealed. Rozenstruik headlined six UFC cards and won two knockouts and the heavyweight title in Mike Perry's Dirty Boxing after his release.
Former UFC heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik has signed with Europe's Fight Nation Championship and will return to MMA competition at FNC 37 in Munich on February 6, 2027. A debut opponent has not been revealed.
The move ends a long layoff for the Surinamese knockout specialist, who has not fought in MMA for roughly 20 months. His last appearance was a unanimous decision loss to Sergei Pavlovich, a result that closed out his UFC tenure.
Rozenstruik, nicknamed "Bigi Boy," is 38 and holds a 15-6 professional record. He trains out of American Top Team and fights from an orthodox stance, standing six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach. His striking numbers reflect a power-first approach: 3.48 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He has not attempted a takedown or a submission, which fits a profile built almost entirely on stand-up offense.
During his UFC run, Rozenstruik headlined six cards. Since his release, he has stayed active outside MMA, winning two knockouts and the heavyweight title in Mike Perry's Dirty Boxing.
Pavlovich, the man who handed him that final UFC loss, is 34 and carries a 20-3 record. The Russian, who trains with Eagles MMA, sits third in the heavyweight rankings. He fights as a southpaw at six-foot-three with an 84-inch reach, and lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 44 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Rozenstruik, 38, returns on a European promotion's card rather than the UFC, giving FNC a recognizable heavyweight name for its Munich event.
- The 20-month gap raises questions about ring rust, though his recent dirty boxing title run kept him competing in a striking-heavy format.
- His opponent remains unannounced, so the quality of the debut matchup is still open.
Rozenstruik's knockout power has long defined his career, and a one-dimensional but dangerous striking profile is likely to remain his calling card in his first FNC appearance.
