Despite being announced only yesterday, UFC Columbus has a main event of Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik lined up.
The recently announced UFC Columbus already has a main event in the works. ESPN was first to report that Jairzinho Rozenstruik (10-0) will get his wish, and face fellow scary striker Francis Ngannou atop the Fight Night card this March.
It’s the Boogeyman vs. Baba Yaga. Rozenstruik called for the fight following his fifth-round knockout of Alistair Overeem this month. The heavyweight from Suriname, who received a hero’s welcome back home following the fight, picked up four victories in the octagon in 2019, all four coming via finishes — three knockouts and a TKO. Along with Overeem, Rozenstruik also stopped former champion Andrei Arlovski, at UFC 244 in New York City.
Francis Ngannou (14-3) went on a similar tear to start his UFC career, and remains one of the most feared heavyweights in the organization. After a six-victory run to start his tenure in the octagon, Ngannou went up against champ Stipe Miocic, but came up short in that fight. A disappointing decision to Derrick Lewis followed, but ‘The Predator’ has bounced back with wins over Curtis Blaydes, Cain Velasquez, and Junior Dos Santos. All three have come via TKO.
UFC Columbus, expected to be UFC on ESPN 8, takes place March 28, 2020 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Update: Broadcast partner ESPN shows this card will air on the main ESPN network rather than ESPN+
