Most fighters who get released from the UFC end up fighting in smaller organizations for less money and fewer opportunities. This often feels like a career death sentence. But sometimes getting fired turns out to be exactly what a fighter needs to rediscover their passion and find success in unexpected places.<\/p>
Jairzinho Rozenstruik learned this lesson the hard way when Dana White decided his lackluster performance against Sergei Pavlovich was the final straw. After going 9-6 in the UFC with some impressive knockouts along the way, ‘Bigi Boy’ found himself without a job and facing an uncertain future. The heavyweight division had been his home for years. Suddenly he was looking for a new place to showcase his skills. Little did anyone know that this setback would lead to him becoming a champion in a completely different sport just months later.<\/p>
Rozenstruik’s release from the UFC in February 2025 shocked the MMA world. Here was a fighter who had been ranked in the top ten, coming off back to back wins. But his fight with Pavlovich at UFC Saudi Arabia was such a disappointing affair that Dana White couldn’t hide his frustration. Two knockout artists spending three rounds playing it safe and barely engaging was apparently the last thing White wanted to see from his heavyweight contenders.<\/p>