Nursulton Ruziboev and Andrei Pulyaev squared off at the pre-fight faceoff ahead of their matchup at UFC Baku.
Nursulton Ruziboev and Andrei Pulyaev stood across from each other at the pre-fight faceoff as UFC Baku edges closer, giving fans their first in-person look at the two fighters set to share the Octagon.
Ruziboev, known by the nickname "Black," enters the bout carrying a professional record of 37 wins, 9 losses, and 2 draws. The 32-year-old Uzbek stands six-foot-five with a 76-inch reach and trains out of UZB Patriot. Fighting out of an orthodox stance, he lands an average of 2.59 significant strikes per minute at a 46 percent striking accuracy rate. He also adds a modest takedown threat, averaging 0.75 takedowns per 15 minutes, though he rarely looks for submissions.
Pulyaev's verified statistics were not available at the time of this report, but the faceoff confirmed the matchup is moving forward as scheduled.
Why it matters
- Ruziboev's physical dimensions — six-foot-five and a 76-inch reach — give him a notable size advantage that could be a defining factor in the fight
- The faceoff signals both fighters are on track and making weight class, keeping the card intact for UFC Baku
- With Ruziboev's combination of striking volume and takedown ability, the style matchup remains an intriguing question until more is known about Pulyaev's tendencies
