Volkov vs Rozenstruik: UFC Brings it Hard, Let’s Find the Money

Expect an explosive ending when heavyweights Alexander Volkov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik meet this Saturday. Volkov vs Rozenstruik will be a nice palette cleanser after the last snoozer of the main event. And although Rozenstruik has a bad habit of getting into staring contests, he packs enough power in his mits that a few good punches could turn a sparring contest into a highlight reel.

Volkov vs Rozenstruik Fight Info

• Fight: Alexander Volkov (34-10-0) vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik (12-3-0)
• Location: UFC Apex
• Day/Time: Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET
• Television: ESPN+

Volkov Packs Heat as “Swolekov”

Alexander Volkov is on his way to breaking his “gatekeeper” status in the UFC’s heavyweight division. The Russian has an 8-4 record in the promotion but those four losses are quite glaring: they’ve come against title challengers or top-five fighters. To help him get over the hump, Volkov has bulked up thus earning the unofficial moniker of “Swolekov”.

As a fighter with a Muay Thai background, Volkov was once one of the lighter heavyweights given that he’s 6’7″. But he has since moved up to being as heavy as over the 265-lb. weight limit come fight time. Volkov didn’t just do it to make him harder to weight bully but to add some more “oomph” to his strikes.

He dusted Alistair Overeem and Walt Harris within two rounds and only the savvier strikers have avoided his newfound power. There is a reason the betting totals are at 3½ as the books expect Volkov to eventually catch Rozenstruik. When folks are betting on UFC fights, heavyweight bouts tend to end in a knockout.

Volkov looks to continue this trend as he hopes to get back in the title picture. He is the slight favorite per the Volkov vs Rozenstruik fight odds though he may be undervalued given that his losses were to the cream of the crop and `has no issues taking big shots.

“My sparring partners were big guys with strong punching power,” Volkov told Sherdog.com. “They copied my next opponent’s style perfectly. Although it was on short notice, I managed to get a lot of work done. I aim to remain in the same shape for the fight.”

Rozenstruik Needs More than One Punch

Speaking of heavy hitters, Jairzinho Rozenstruik could be the third-hardest puncher in the entire promotion. The Surinamese striker will either knock his opponent out or lose the fight. All six of his wins have come via knockout with four coming within the first 1½ rounds. The issue with Rozenstruik is how he turns into “Frozenstruik”.

Yes, while Volkov’s fan-made moniker has more to do with his chunkier frame, Rozenstruik’s is more to his penchant for not fighting. Rozenstruik has a tendency to stare at his opponent, parry with his hands, and time that perfect shot. Kudos to him as it’s worked more than it hasn’t.

“When I see him, I’ll be there,” Rozenstruik said in an interview with Low Kick MMA. “He’s a big guy, he’s a big tree so I’ll be more moving, finding my angles and try to land what I can land and then see how he reacts. But I would say any error, any mistakes you’re out”

That has been the case with Rozenstruik as he only lands around 2.8 significant strikes per minute and yet he has knocked out most of his opponents. The key for him is to do it against the higher-level opponents. Ciryl Gane made him look like a block of ice most recently.

It is plausible that within the Volkov vs Rozenstruik main event he catches Volkov and cashes those underdog tickets. Rozenstruik has often been an underdog per his betting odds. He’s lost his last three as one but won his first three, which still makes him a profitable fighter under these circumstances.