Alexander Volkov stops Jairzinho Rozenstruik with early first-round TKO

Alexander Volkov landed a big straight hand, then another. He followed with a massive left hook that sent Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s mouthpiece flying from his jaw to the Octagon canvas.

Volkov kept pumping that long punching combination until referee Herb Dean put a stop to things. The TKO finish for the 6-foot-7 heavyweight Volkov came at 2:12 of the first round. It was Volkov’s quickest finish in his six years in the UFC.

« I know that he does not have good defense [at that moment], back to the cage, » Volkov said in his postfight interview. « I just see him go to the cage and just go forward for the knockout. Good fight. »

Rozenstruik protested the stoppage a bit with Dean. He did not get dropped, though he was hurt and Dean seemed to believe Rozenstruik had ceased intelligently defending himself.

Volkov said it’s his desire to « go forward in the division. » ESPN has Volkov ranked No. 8 and Rozenstruik ranked No. 10 in the world at heavyweight.

« Now I’m waiting for next fight, » Volkov said. « I’m ready for anything. »

Rozenstruik landed a crisp left hook on a counter early in the first round. Volkov, though, pressed forward and landed those big shots when he saw Rozenstruik’s back toward the cage.

Volkov (35-10) has won two of his past three fights. Most recently, the fighter from Russia lost via second-round submission to Tom Aspinall at UFC London in March. Volkov, 33, has a 9-4 UFC record and is a former M-1 heavyweight champion.

Rozenstruik (12-4) has dropped two straight and four of his past six. The fighter from Suriname has not won since a TKO over Augusto Sakai in June 2021. Rozenstruik, 34, has a 6-4 UFC record.