The coronavirus outbreak has thrown the MMA world into disarray. Basically every major fight promotion has cancelled or postponed events, gyms are closed, and training has become increasingly difficult. Few fighters have been more affected by the global pandemic than sixth-ranked heavyweight contender Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Rozenstruik was set to headline UFC Columbus this weekend against Francis Ngannou in a bout that could have determined the next heavyweight title challenger and would have determined the unofficial title of “scariest man in the UFC”. Now, those plans have been put on pause and ‘Bigi Boy” is stuck in a holding, waiting for news on when he will get to fight.

“We’re doing what we have to do, keeping training, waiting for an update,” Rozenstruik told The Schmo recently. “Now we’ve slowed the pace a little bit down and as soon as we have an update, we’ll squeeze it back up and we’re on. So we’re ready for whatever.”

Rozenstruik is currently still training at American Top Team down in Florida while his family is back home in Suriname. The interruption in events means that now Rozenstruik is kept away from his family for an indeterminate amount of time while he waits for fight news. UFC President Dana White has said the UFC intends to rebook all of the postponed fights and that things will be “back in business” following UFC 249 on April 18, but Rozenstruik has a better idea: why not just have him and Ngannou fight on the UFC 249 card?

“I’d be happy to dance 18th of April,” Rozenstruik said. “I can’t wait for this [fight] to happen because we’ve been working hard for it and the fun has to come out right now. It’s about time.”

Ngannou has not fought since last June and has been very vocal with the UFC about wanting to fight. He also recently suggested that he would be happy to fight on the UFC 249 card as well, so this outcome may be something the UFC is interested in putting together. Then again, they may also want to save this main event fight for another card down the road that is in need of a punch up. Regardless of how it happens though, Rozenstruik just hopes whatever is going to come, comes quickly so he can get back to his family.

“A couple days ago [the UFC] called and they said the situation - maybe a month or later [is when we will fight],” Rozenstruik said. “So we’re waiting for an actual date so we know when we’re gonna dance. . . The situation is crazy. I really want to dance and then go back to the family and get back to normal and hope the situation settles up really fast.”

---

MUST-READ STORIES

UFC President Dana White won’t say whether UFC 249 fighters will be tested for coronavirus.

Khabib Nurmagomedov returns to Russia to finish training camp for UFC 249.

Justin Gaethje: If Conor McGregor ‘fights me and beats me,’ nobody could complain about the Khabib rematch.

Jorge Masvidal disregards ATT’s trash talk ban to blast Colby Covington: ‘That dude is no fighter’.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk responds to Colby Covington: ‘He’s a dirty guy... he’s lying’.

2020 Summer Olympics officially postponed due to coronavirus outbreak.

---

VIDEO STEW

Free fights.

The only two upkick finishes in UFC history.

Conor gets it.

Ten fighters who had that one dude they couldn’t beat.

---

LISTEN UP

Eurobash. Interviews with Colby Covington, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Paddy Pimblett and Mason Jones.

Anik & Florian. Discussing UFC 249 amid the coronavirus.

---

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Enemies.

Friends?

Aljo refuting reports.

And Sandhagen confirms.

I did not see this coming.

Trying so hard.

I always suspected but this confirms it, Corey Anderson hates fun.

Tony is running out of weird ideas.

A man of class and substance.

---

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

N/A.

---

FINAL THOUGHTS

If both guys want to do it and the UFC is steadfastly refusing to listen to science, medical experts, and reason, sure - go ahead and put this on UFC 249. It’s a banger of a fight at least.

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

---

EXIT POLL

---

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram, add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting, and like us on Facebook.