UFC Fight Night 189: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Tito Wordsmith
- May 21
- 6 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 189: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai took place on June 5, 2021 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas — UFC Vegas 28. The heavyweight main event saw Jairzinho Rozenstruik, looking to bounce back from his comprehensive loss to Ciryl Gane, take on Brazilian contender Augusto Sakai, who himself had been beaten by Overeem in 2020 and was fighting his way back into contention.
Rozenstruik delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of his career: a buzzer-beating TKO with just one second left in round one, putting away Sakai after a late-round assault. The co-main featured Marcin Tybura surviving a brutal first-round onslaught from Walt Harris before turning the fight around and earning his own TKO. Santiago Ponzinibbio made his long-awaited return after over two years away, and Roman Dolidze won his UFC debut. A card full of heavyweight drama.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, June 5, 2021
📍 Venue: UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, USA (UFC Vegas 28)
👥 Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors — COVID-19 pandemic)
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 47)
🏆 Main Event: Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Augusto Sakai — Heavyweight (5 rounds)
✅ Result: Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Augusto Sakai via TKO (Punches) (Round 1, 4:59)
🥇 Champion: Title not on the line | Buzzer-beater finish at 4:59 of R1
The Build-Up
Jairzinho Rozenstruik had been widely criticised for his passive performance in his shutout loss to Ciryl Gane at FN 186. The Surinamese heavyweight’s critics argued his game plan had been too conservative, and he needed a statement win. Augusto Sakai provided that opportunity: the Brazilian was ranked inside the top 10 and coming off a loss to Overeem, looking to build momentum. Walt Harris vs. Marcin Tybura provided heavyweight fireworks in the co-main.
The card’s most emotionally charged subplot was Santiago Ponzinibbio’s return. The Argentine welterweight had been one of the most exciting fighters in the division until a severe staph infection in November 2018 sidelined him for over two years, with multiple surgeries and serious health complications. FN 189 was his first fight back, and the MMA world was watching.
Main Event: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai
Jairzinho Rozenstruik finished Augusto Sakai by TKO with one second remaining in round one — 4:59 of the opening stanza. The fight developed across much of round one with Sakai competitive and Rozenstruik looking for openings. With the clock running down, Rozenstruik landed a body punch followed by a hook and a right hand that floored Sakai. He followed up on the canvas and the referee stopped the fight with less than a second on the clock.
The dramatic timing of the finish was quintessential Rozenstruik — his power capable of ending any fight at any moment. The buzzer-beater nature of the stoppage generated significant conversation and re-established him as one of the most dangerous punchers in the heavyweight division.
Co-Main Event: Tybura vs. Harris
Marcin Tybura stopped Walt Harris by TKO at 4:06 of round one in one of the most dramatic single rounds of the year. Harris came out with his characteristic explosive aggression, badly hurting Tybura early in the round and putting him in survival mode. Tybura’s durability and toughness saw him absorb the worst Harris could deliver, recover, and then reverse the tide late in the round with a barrage of punches that stopped Harris. Tybura earned a Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts.
Full Results
Main Card
Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Augusto Sakai — TKO (Punches) (Round 1, 4:59) — Performance of the Night | Buzzer-beater finish
Marcin Tybura def. Walt Harris — TKO (Punches) (Round 1, 4:06) — Performance of the Night | Survived early assault
Roman Dolidze def. Laureano Staropoli — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00) | 30-27 x3 — Dolidze’s UFC debut win
Santiago Ponzinibbio def. Miguel Baeza — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00) | 29-28 x3 — Fight of the Night | Return after 2+ year layoff
Gregory Rodrigues def. Duško Todorović — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00)
Montana De La Rosa def. Ariane Lipski — Decision (Round 3)
Ilir Latifi def. Tanner Boser — Decision (Round 3)
Muslim Salikhov def. Francisco Trinaldo — Decision (Round 3)
Preliminary Card
Manon Fiorot def. Tabatha Ricci — TKO (Punches) (Round 2, 3:00)
Alan Patrick vs. Mason Jones — No Contest (Accidental Eye Poke) (Round 2, 2:14)
Sean Woodson def. Youssef Zalal — Decision (Split) (Round 3)
Claudio Puelles def. Jordan Leavitt — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3) | 29-28 x3
Kamuela Kirk def. Makwan Amirkhani — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3)
Bonuses & Awards
🥊 Fight of the Night: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Miguel Baeza ($50,000 each)
🏆 Performance of the Night: Jairzinho Rozenstruik ($50,000) — TKO of Augusto Sakai, Round 1, 4:59
🏆 Performance of the Night: Marcin Tybura ($50,000) — TKO of Walt Harris, Round 1, 4:06
Records & Milestones
🥊 Rozenstruik’s 4:59 finish of Sakai was one of the latest-round buzzer-beater stoppages in UFC heavyweight history. His power at the end of rounds was a recurring theme throughout his career.
🥊 Santiago Ponzinibbio had not competed since November 2018 due to a severe staph infection that required multiple surgeries and life-altering medical care. His return at FN 189 was one of the most emotionally significant comebacks in recent welterweight history.
🥊 Roman Dolidze made his UFC debut with a unanimous decision win over Laureano Staropoli, beginning what would become a significant run in the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions.
🥊 The Alan Patrick vs. Mason Jones NC due to an accidental eye poke was the second such stoppage in consecutive events, following the Edwards-Muhammad NC at FN 187.
Legacy & Impact
UFC Fight Night 189 is remembered for its heavyweight drama and the emotional power of Ponzinibbio’s return. Rozenstruik’s buzzer-beater of Sakai immediately became one of the defining moments of his UFC career — a demonstration that his knockout power has no clock attached to it. The co-main’s Tybura-Harris battle, with Tybura surviving the early storm and turning the fight around, was one of the most entertaining single rounds of 2021.
Ponzinibbio’s return win over Baeza confirmed that he had come back from a career-threatening illness, and he continued to be a fixture in the welterweight rankings. The card also featured Manon Fiorot’s early UFC ascent and Roman Dolidze making his debut — two fighters who would go on to contend seriously in their respective divisions.
FAQ
How did Rozenstruik finish Sakai at the buzzer?
With the clock running down on round one at 4:59, Rozenstruik landed a body shot to lower Sakai’s guard, then followed with a hook and a right hand that dropped the Brazilian. He added punches on the canvas and the referee stopped the fight with just one second remaining. The sequence was a textbook demonstration of Rozenstruik’s patient, power-based fighting style.
What was Santiago Ponzinibbio’s illness before FN 189?
In November 2018, Ponzinibbio was diagnosed with a severe staph infection that had entered his bloodstream. He underwent multiple surgeries and was hospitalised for an extended period. The infection nearly ended his life and required years of recovery. He was unable to fight from November 2018 until his return at FN 189 in June 2021 — a gap of over 2.5 years.
How did Tybura recover from Harris’s early assault?
Harris came out explosively and landed heavy shots that hurt Tybura in the early part of round one. Tybura’s durability and experienced defensive instincts helped him survive the most dangerous moments. As Harris tired slightly in the round’s final ninety seconds, Tybura landed a right hand that shifted momentum, followed up with a flurry, and stopped Harris at 4:06.
Who is Roman Dolidze?
Roman Dolidze is a Georgian fighter with a grappling background, known for his physicality and finishing ability. His UFC debut win at FN 189 was the beginning of a run that included wins over well-known veterans. He became one of the more interesting fighters in the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions, known for his engaging style and relentless pressure.
Was the Alan Patrick vs. Jones eye poke NC controversial?
The Alan Patrick vs. Mason Jones bout was stopped at 2:14 of round two after Patrick poked Jones in the eye and Jones was unable to continue. It was the second eye poke NC in two consecutive Fight Night cards, following the Edwards-Muhammad stoppage at FN 187 two events prior. The pattern sparked renewed discussion about eye poke prevention and enforcement of open-hand-guard rules in the UFC.
References
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