Rozenstruik vs Gaziev Prediction: The Big Men Not Big Enough For Saudi Arabia
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Ryan Sidle
On Saturday night, the latest UFC Fight Night comes from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas but it was originally set to take place in the east. Not in the Eastern Time Zone but in the Middle East.
At the top of the bill are two heavyweights who will be determined to prove they’ve got the knockout power that the Saudis have craved in their foray into fight sports. We’ve got all the info for the main event in our Rozenstruik vs Gaziev prediction.
With UFC set to make its debut in Saudi Arabia this weekend, those in charge of organising the event in the country decided that the names involved weren’t big enough for them.
Instead the MMA’s biggest promotion heads back to its home in Vegas once again for the latest Fight Night offering.
UFC Fight Night 238: Rozenstruik vs Gaziev Prediction
When it has come to boxing going over to Saudi Arabia, it’s been clear that the country has wanted the big punching heavyweights more than anyone else.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have already fought out in the Middle East and the pair have future fights coming up there too.
For UFC’s debut, Dana White offered up two of the biggest striking heavyweights on his roster but that wasn’t enough for the Saudis, so their first UFC event will be in June instead.
Meanwhile the action inside the Octagon still goes on this weekend and we’ve got our Jarzinho Rozenstruik vs Shamil Gaziev prediction to come.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik Preview
There is a reason that Rozenstruik has been involved in more main events in UFC than every current active champion on the roster other than Leon Edwards.
The man known as ‘Bigi Boy’ might not have topped the bill on as many pay-per-views as the champs, or other fighters, but he’s as likely to produce an exciting moment in his fights as anyone else. The 35-year-old has been involved in 14 knockouts in his 18 MMA bouts, whether he’s been on the right or wrong end of them.
He went unbeaten in the first 10 times inside the cage of his professional career, winning all but one using his fists. The 11th fight was his first defeat, but it was at the hands of Francis Ngannou, so you can’t blame him too much.
Rozenstruik hasn’t won two in a row since that defeat however and is now 3-5 in his previous eight fights, stretching back to 2020.
Of course, he does tend to only ever be involved with fighters in and around the top 15 rankings and in a division like the heavyweights that can spell trouble.
For Gaziev this weekend there is plenty on the line. The Russian born fighter has a chance to make it into the UFC rankings, which brings with it bigger fights and inevitably more money. Not only that, but his undefeated streak is on the line.
The 34 year old goes into his latest fight with a 12-0 record and he’s won eight of those by stopping his opponent, another three by making the man in the opposite corner tap out and just the one by judges’ decision.
Considering the records of both men it’s unlikely that anyone’s Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs Shamil Gaziev prediction will involve this fight lasting the entirety of the scheduled time.
It shows how highly rated Gaziev is in UFC that he’s involved in this one in just his second fight since being part of Dana White’s Contender Series.
He isn’t even fighting the odds going into this one, with the bookmakers making him the favorite. Will we join the hype with our Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs Shamil Gaziev prediction?
Certainly the winner of this one will put themselves right in the mix for a potential world title fight, whether that’s for the interim belt or the undisputed championship further down the line.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs Shamil Gaziev Prediction: Gatekeeper To Bolt Down The Heavyweight Rankings
When it comes to our Rozenstruik vs Gaziev prediction it’s a case of whether or not the man from Suriname can use his experience on the biggest stage to his advantage.
It’s his sixth main event on a UFC card whilst his rival for Saturday night is yet to top a card on the number one MMA promotion around.
Gaziev is the coming man and will be hoping to get involved in the title picture in the future. Rozenstruik is less likely to make it to the top of the mountain even with a victory here. The only problem is the undefeated fighter doesn’t have too many examples of his work to point towards.
As such our official prediction is to back Rozenstruik on the Moneyline at +154, as the underdog heading into this one. Gaziev is available at -185 to win.
Such is the disparity in how likely each method of victory is, Bigi Boy is +165 to win by TKO/KO, +2200 to win by submission and +1800 by decision.
It’s not likely to go too long but instead of a first round stoppage, we’ll back Rozenstruik to win in second round at +850.
Finally we’ll take a punt on the fight to end in the first minute of that second round at +1200.
Ryan Sidle is a sports journalist with nearly a decade in the industry. He's been interested in boxing since Mike Tyson vs Frank Bruno and his MMA fandom was sparked by Michael Bisping and Anderson Silva.
