The upcoming UFC Vegas 87 is poised to kick off 2024 with a bang, featuring a heavyweight showdown that promises fireworks inside the octagon.
Multiple sources familiar with the UFC’s plans have confirmed to MMA Fighting that the highly anticipated bout between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Shamil Gaziev will take center stage as the main event. Set to unfold on March 2 at the UFC APEX, this clash of titans was first reported by Eurosport.
Originally earmarked to unfold in Saudi Arabia, the event’s debut was pushed back to June, but now fight fans can rejoice as the heavyweight spectacle finds its home in the UFC’s renowned octagon.
Rozenstruik, entering his 13th appearance in the UFC, is eager to rebound from a tough defeat in his last outing. Having suffered a submission loss to Jailton Almeida in the main event at UFC Charlotte last May, the fighter known as “Bigi Boi” is determined to turn the tide.
Despite a recent 1-3 record, Rozenstruik’s thunderous knockout of Chris Daukaus in just 23 seconds at UFC 282 in December 2022 serves as a testament to his formidable skills.
On the other side of the octagon, Gaziev steps into his first main event spotlight with only his second UFC bout under his belt. At 33 years old, Gaziev boasts an impressive record of finishing all 12 of his professional fights, none of which have extended beyond the second round.
His octagon debut at December’s UFC 296 saw him secure a second-round standing TKO victory over Martin Buday, setting the stage for his ascent in the heavyweight ranks.
As anticipation builds for UFC Vegas 87, fight enthusiasts can expect nothing short of an electrifying clash between two heavyweights hungry for victory.
