Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa aimed to break a challenging four-fight losing streak as he faced Jairzinho Rozenstruik on the PPV portion of UFC 305 on Saturday.
Tuivasa, from Perth, Australia, entered the bout coming off losses to notable fighters such as Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov. Rozenstruik, a former kickboxer and RIZIN veteran, was looking to build on his recent victory over Shamil Gaziev.
The fight began with both men cautiously exchanging kicks. After a minute of tentative movement, they engaged in a brief flurry, leaving Tuivasa to circle on the outside. Tuivasa employed numerous feints, leading to a strategic, chess-like exchange. A missed leg kick from Tuivasa caused him to stumble, while Rozenstruik attempted a high kick that was blocked. As the first round progressed, both fighters primarily used kicks, with Rozenstruik adding a body shot.
In the second round, Tuivasa came out aggressive, landing a powerful right hand that energized both him and the crowd. He followed up with a flurry of punches, backing Rozenstruik up. However, Rozenstruik responded with a left hook that connected. The intensity picked up, with both fighters fully engaged. Despite Tuivasa's aggressive push, he seemed to hurt himself with a kick and had to manage Rozenstruik's counters while continuing to press forward.
Heading into the third round, Tuivasa aimed for a knockout, landing a front kick and showing his leg was still functional. Rozenstruik landed a kick to Tuivasa’s lead leg, followed by a punch. The two continued to trade blows and kicks. With time running out, Tuivasa needed a finish and over-committed on a right hand, missing and signaling a low blow, though he chose to continue.
In the final 90 seconds, Tuivasa struggled to land a decisive blow until the last 20 seconds, when he finally landed a shot on Rozenstruik just before the final horn.
When the scorecards were read, Rozenstruik seemed to have secured a clear decision win. However, in a surprising twist, judge Howie Booth scored the fight 30-27 in favor of Tuivasa.
Official Result: Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Tai Tuivasa by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)
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