Jairzinho Rozenstruik says grappling has change into ‘a behavior, second-nature’ going into UFC Fight Night 238 headliner

LAS VEGAS – Jairzinho Rozenstruik thinks he’s shored up the ideal hole in his sport at some stage in his 10-month layoff going into Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 238 predominant tournament.

Rozenstruik (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) returns to action following a predominant-round submission loss to Jailton Almeida in May perchance presumably simply 2023 when he takes on Shamil Gaziev (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a five-round heavyweight bout at the UFC Apex (ESPN+).

The decorated Surinamese striker came into the UFC better than five years ago as purely a stand-up possibility. He’s handled himself admirably on the ground, however the loss to Almeida marked the first time he’d been submitted.

That proved as one thing of a serious serious be-careful call for Rozenstruik, and he talked about he’s labored diligently on his grappling in most modern months.

“(My layoff turn into once) indubitably relaxing and specializing in my skillset,” Rozenstruik educated MMA Junkie and other newshounds at UFC Fight Night 238 media day. “Especially taking some wrestling and jiu-jitsu lessons. It became a behavior, second nature and stuff adore that. … In the origin, it felt (demanding), but after some time of doing it, you’re going to birth embracing it. I’m at that level.”

Rozenstruik will need his anti-grappling to cling up up this weekend. Gaziev will even be a force on the mat, and should quiet likely put Rozenstruik’s advancement to the test at some level within the battle.

It’s a enlighten the set Rozenstruik apparently has the most to lose. He’s 1-3 in his previous four fights, and this might perhaps impress his fifth time headlining a UFC card. Gaziev, within the meantime, has simplest made one old octagon look, and it turn into once the opening bout of a numbered card.

“If the UFC selected the fellow as a predominant tournament, then you definately know he’s a astronomical deal,” Rozenstruik talked about. “He has a ideal file. You’ve got to give him his props. You’ve got to prefer him serious. 12-0. It’s no longer that he’s doing nothing. So this weekend, he’s going to salvage a test.

“I’m very gay the UFC look the predominant tournament caliber in me. It’s indubitably a astronomical different. I will’t wait to switch in there this Saturday and assemble my factor. I indubitably command they appear me as a man it is probably going you’ll perhaps put there and salvage the job performed. So I’m gay they acknowledge that. Now the day’s nearly there for me to assemble my portion.”

If Rozenstruik, 35, can pull off a astronomical pick and derail his undefeated opponent, he desires to develop a summer turnaround. But this walk is going to be approached in a completely different contrivance than within the previous, he talked about.

With fights against Almeida, Alexander Volkanovski, Curtis Blaydes, Ciryl Gane, Junior Dos Santos, Francis Ngannou, Alistair Overeem and Andrei Arlovski already on his resume, Rozenstruik has already tasted worthy of the head level. It’s been with blended success, however, and for him, that’s no longer accurate ample.

“After this Saturday’s pick, I’ll prefer a pair steps abet,” Rozenstruik talked about. “I believe adore in my UFC profession I made a pair errors, a pair of missteps. I gave away a limited bit bit of my energy. So I’m specializing in getting the complete puzzle objects together. I’m finding the puzzle objects already, so I already feel my proper energy but again. I’m specializing in that. I want to salvage abet near July or August.”

For more on the card, consult with MMA Junkie’s tournament hub for UFC Fight Night 238.