Expectations for Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Shamil Gaziev at UFC Vegas 87 final evening (Sat., March 2, 2023) began within the basement.
Actually.
In a vacuum, Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev wasn’t a horrible match up. Gaziev was marginally spectacular in his UFC debut end win over Martin Buday, whereas Rozenstruik has principally struggled in current fights and thus may use a step again. It’s not intriguing, however positive, it’s a struggle that’s price watching.
An additional two rounds although? No one wished that. There was no want! The one pair of probably good situations right here concerned the struggle ending inside 5 minutes. Both Rozenstruik’s counter left hook ended the struggle in a minute or Gaziev smashed the kickboxer with floor strikes earlier than gassing — these have been the one good choices!
There was no likelihood of this struggle enhancing after the opening 5 minutes. There was DEFINITELY no likelihood of this struggle being good after 15! Gaziev is thought to fuel out, and each Rozenstruik struggle that goes past the primary is characterised by lengthy durations of inactivity.
I’ll give some credit score to ‘Bigi Boy’: he threw extra this struggle. 122 important strikes in 20 minutes is fairly strong, notably by his commonplace. Alas, Gaziev did stay as much as his fatigued popularity, which nonetheless precipitated the bout to pull. He was spent after the opening jiffy, and Rozenstruik just about simply jabbed him up till referee Marc Goddard and the physician teamed as much as present him — and us — some mercy by calling the struggle between rounds
Predictable.
Briefly, it was a predictably dangerous principal occasion with zero consequence. Rozenstruik doesn’t transfer up the ladder. Gaziev returns to the “Prelims” from whence he got here. The actual situation right here is that UFC retains feeding its followers and ESPN+ horrible Heavyweight principal occasions regardless of the persistently mediocre outcomes.
Excluding Jon Jones — in all probability probably the most adorned athlete in UFC historical past — Rozenstruik has scored the primary occasion slot greater than some other energetic UFC champion. Six occasions he’s been high of the cardboard, and never a kind of bouts has been all that a lot enjoyable to look at. We don’t must maintain making an attempt!
Fight sports activities have all the time promoted the largest males probably the most, as a result of that’s what appeals most to the informal fanbase. If we now have to focus on the divisions 185-pounds and up, nevertheless, can we a minimum of be certain that they’re good match ups? Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev lowered the bar on this regard, taking a completely unremarkable undercard fighter and pitting him in opposition to a ranked — however stationary and infrequently boring — contender.
We’ve seen sufficient Jairzinho Rozenstruik principal occasions. Sadly, within the aftermath of his win, I’ve seen a number of requires Rozenstruik vs. Derrick Lewis, which someway hasn’t occurred but. It’s a particular step up from final evening’s principal occasion, and would make an amazing three-round bout on a pay-per-view or co-main occasion in some non-Apex “Combat Night time.”
As an alternative, it in all probability will get the five-round therapy, and we’ll all be crossing our fingers hoping for a stoppage inside two minutes.
For full UFC Vegas 87: “Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev” outcomes and play-by-play, click on HERE.
