Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa looked to snap a perilous four-fight skid when he faced off with Jairzinho Rozenstruik on the PPV portion of UFC 305 on Saturday.
The Perth, Australia-based card found Tuivasa having lost to fighters including Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov during that slump. Former kickboxer and RIZIN veteran Rozenstruik, for his part, entered off a win over Shamil Gaziev.
The fight opened with an exchanges of kicks, with both men looked reserved. About a minute in, they opened up in a little flurry, which left Tuivasa circling on the outside. Tai was using plenty of feints, which led to a bit of a chess match/feeling out process. A big swing and a miss on a leg kick swung Tuivasa around; Rozenstruik would fire a kick up high a moment later, which was blocked. Heading into the final 90 seconds of the round, kicks were the best weapon either man had employed. Rozenstruik, however, added a shot to the body.
Tuivasa got going in the second, firing his right hand and drawing a reaction from both Rozenstruik and the crowd. A moment later, Tai landed the right, then unleashed a flurry. Rozenstruik was forced to back up, but Rozenstruik uncorked a left that clipped Tai! These two big men were full throttle now. Tuivasa again backed Rozenstruik up, but had to be wary of the counter.
It was still anyone’s fight, but Tuivasa appeared to hurt himself off a kick. Hopping gingerly, Tuivasa now had to contend with Rozenstruik pouring it on. Tuivasa battled back, marching Rozenstruik down, bad leg or no. Too much of the first two rounds, however, had been fought at Jair Rozenstruik’s pace, something Tuivasa would have to mitigate in the third round if he had any hope of a win.
Tuivasa was looking to land his right hand early in the third, hunting the knockout blow. He fired a front kick, if nothing else showing his leg was holding together. Rozenstruik touched the lead leg with a kick. Rozenstruik landed a punch, Tuivasa answered back, and they traded kicks to the body. Plenty of back-and-forth played out in the third, but time, as it usually does, became a factor. Tai needed a finish, and over-committed on a right. Another one fanned, and Tuivasa signaled that he’d been clipped low, but opted to continue with no break.
The final 90 seconds found Tuivasa unable to find the finish he needed, though not for lack of effort. He couldn’t find a way inside until the final 20 seconds however, where he finally clipped Rozenstruik mere seconds before the final horn.
Come the scorecards, Rozenstruik took what appeared to be an obvious decision win – but judge Howie Booth, in a particular questionable bit of judging, scored it 30-27 for Tai.
Official Result: Jarizinho Rozenstruik def. Tai Tuivasa by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)
