Alistair Overeem Says he “Schooled” Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Promises to Finish Heavyweight in Rematch

Alistair Overeem still maintains that his record should include a win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and the heavyweight legend insists that will be the case, if and when the two fight again.

Overeem says he’ll finish Rozenstruik “100%”

The Dutch heavyweight fought Rozenstruik this past December, and it looked like Overeem would deliver the noted striker his first UFC defeat. Overeem outscored Rozenstruik throughout four rounds, but late into round five, the latter sent him to the deck with a booming shot. 

Although Overeem didn’t go out, the fight was stopped, handing Rozenstruik one of the more memorable, come-from-behind wins in recent memory.

Well fast forward to today, and Overeem is coming off a stoppage win over Walt Harris this month, and Rozenstruik was KO’d by Francis Ngannou. While talking to Sirius XM’s Fight Nation since his latest win, Overeem relayed he’d love to fight “Bigi Boy” again (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“I’m not dissatisfied about the Rozenstruik performance. … We schooled the guy,” Overeem said. “We were up all five rounds, it was just like one, or actually it was two punches that he connected.

In my opinion a wrong stoppage, the ref should have never jumped in and when he jumped in it was zero seconds left. I actually had thought that it was the end of the fight because I remember the click, click, last 10 seconds and then I got dropped, straight back to my feet and it was over.

“I thought I actually won that fight and then it was like hey (expletive), they stopped it, TKO? And then you have Rozenstruik talking about it.

He KO’d me, he KO’d me. That guy got lucky and I would love to run it back with him because (if) I fight him again, I’m gonna finish him. One hundred percent.”

So could Overeem – Rozenstruik II happen?

Now, debate about the stoppage aside, could we see these two heavyweights fight again? It’s not impossible. After all, Rozenstruik is coming off a defeat and his win over the “Reem” was thrilling, but certainly not dominant. He was losing the fight until the last few moments of the contest.

But, you have to wonder whether Rozenstruik or his team would be interested in fighting Overeem right now. They may determine it’s best for him to take a step back, and face someone with a little less MMA experience.

You also have to wonder if the UFC would be on board with this match-up at this time. While hardcore fans likely remember that Overeem was getting the better of Rozenstruik, most fans probably just remember “Bigi Boy” dropping him late, and opening a nasty gash on the legend.