Jairzinho Rozenstruik in limbo after UFC Columbus cancelation, plans to wait in Florida for new date

Jairzinho Rozenstruik will continue to prepare for his next UFC fight, but with no date in sight.

The heavyweight contender was scheduled to headline UFC on ESPN 8 in Columbus, Ohio, on March 28 against fellow striker Francis Ngannou. But the entire event was postponed due to restrictions on public gatherings in the U.S. in response to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Rozenstruik (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), who lives in Suriname, currently is in South Florida since he does his fight preparations at Hard Knocks 365 in Fort Lauderdale. The undefeated contender doesn’t plan to go back to Suriname anytime soon and wants to wait things out in the States.

“For now, I’m going to stay and keep training until the UFC comes with a solution to the situation,” Rozenstruik told MMA Junkie. “I completely understand – it’s for everyone’s health, even mine. So the battle has to wait until the solution comes. We’ll be ready for sure.”

As expected in this uncertain climate with COVID-19, Rozenstruik has not received any updates from the UFC regarding his bout with Ngannou.

Rozenstruik has no guess in mind as to how long that may take, and though he’s in no rush, “Bigi Boy” hopes it’s sooner rather than later.

“I’m going to stay in Florida, (and) as long as the UFC calls me with some news maybe I can decide if I’m going to go back home or stay here and keep training,” Rozenstruik said. “What I don’t hope is that it’s going to take a long time. I hope the situation settles fast and we deal with this coronavirus so we can keep moving in life.

“I just wait until they come with an answer with news, so we’ll see. I have no rush to go back home for now, especially because I’m in my best shape, so I want to keep that pace and see if a date comes.”

It could be frustrating and stressrul for many to be in training camp with no set fight date. Despite the hiccups in his fighting career during the global crisis, Rozenstruik remains calm and is glad the situation is being addressed.

“This is out of our hands, so we just have to adjust to the situation, and we had no problem doing that because it’s for everybody’s health,” Rozenstruik said. “Even for my opponent – if he’s not healthy, he cannot fight. He can’t put the best version of himself (in there), so I’m happy that this situation its being controlled and my opponent is still the same. It’s canceled for now, but I know for sure the UFC will come with a solution as soon as possible.”

Rozenstruik already stocked up on groceries and said he’s prepared to get through the pandemic. He also said Hard Knocks 365 is taking measures to avoid the potential spread of the virus among its athletes.

“The gym is taking certain precautions,” Rozenstruik said. “The gym is actually closed. But if I go to train, me and my coach Mike call, go one-one-one, so they schedule a time for us and then we can do our thing – especially the fighters that need to fight. So yeah, it’s by request.”

For now, the 32-year-old Surinamese fighter will continue moving forward with his fighting career to the best of his ability and look at things with a positive mindset.

“I always in every situation take positives,” Rozenstruik said. “So it is what it has to be, and the thing is that I have to be prepared for whatever. So this just gives me more time to be ready for it. I’m going to keep training and make sure we’re ready for whatever.”