Nursulton Ruziboev and Andrey Pulyaev are squaring off at UFC Baku, bringing a combined 61 professional bouts of experience into the cage. The matchup is live now as part of the event's card.
Nursulton Ruziboev and Andrey Pulyaev are currently competing inside the cage at UFC Baku, bringing a combined 61 professional bouts of experience to their matchup on the event's card.
Ruziboev, nicknamed "Black," enters the fight with a substantial 37-9-2 record and represents Uzbekistan out of the UZB Patriot camp. The 32-year-old stands six-foot-five with a 76-inch reach and fights from an orthodox stance. He lands 2.59 significant strikes per minute at a 46 percent accuracy rate and has shown a willingness to mix in the takedown, averaging 0.75 per 15 minutes throughout his career.
Pulyaev brings a 10-5-0 record into the bout, fighting out of Russia under the Storm Shlemenko Fight Team banner. The 28-year-old southpaw is a sizeable presence at six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach. He has demonstrated sharp hands across his career, connecting on 3.84 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 56 percent accuracy — a notably high rate for any competitor at this level.
Why it matters
- Ruziboev's experience edge is significant, with 48 professional bouts to Pulyaev's 15, giving him a battle-tested resume rarely seen at this stage of a UFC card.
- Pulyaev's striking accuracy of 56 percent presents a genuine threat against a fighter in Ruziboev who absorbs more punishment than he dishes out per minute.
- The size matchup is nearly even, but Pulyaev's southpaw stance against Ruziboev's orthodox approach adds a tactical layer to the stand-up exchanges.
- Ruziboev's takedown activity could prove to be the differentiating factor if he chooses to neutralize Pulyaev's striking output on the feet.
