Overeem considers Rozenstruik KO loss a win: 'I beat him very easily'

The records show that Alistair Overeem lost to Jairzinho Rozenstruik, but "The Demolition Man" says he walked out of the cage feeling a winner.

Overeem suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to Rozenstruik in the UFC D.C. main event earlier this month. He was ahead on the scorecards before Rozenstruik finished him with four seconds left in the fight. Overeem's lip was split wide open.

"To me, it was a win, because we beat him every round," Overeem said at media day ahead of Saturday's UFC Busan, according to SCMP Martial Arts. "The referee should not have jumped in. I was not KO'd. I (stood) back up. It was two seconds left, three seconds left, one second left."

Overeem added: "And I always fight for myself. Always. Of course, your fans, it's great, of course the money is great, but I fight for me. And I see it as a win. I beat him very easily all rounds. OK, I get hit the last five seconds, my lip is damaged. Who cares?"

The 39-year-old's defeat snapped a two-fight winning streak, which included a stoppage win over Aleksei Oleinik in April. Overeem, a former Strikeforce and K-1 champ and ex-UFC title challenger, is one of the most decorated heavyweights of all time.

Rozenstruik remained undefeated in his first UFC main event. "Bigi Boy," who made his promotional debut this year, is 4-0 in the Octagon and one of the breakout stars of the year. He's scheduled to face top contender Francis Ngannou at UFC Columbus in March.