Nursulton Ruziboev secured a first-round rear-naked choke finish against Andrey Pulyaev at UFC Baku, extending his UFC winning streak to three. The victory was Ruziboev's 50th professional fight, his 34th finish, and improves his record to 37-9-2-2NC. Pulyaev falls to 10-5, with just one win in his last four outings and suffering his first career submission loss.
Nursulton Ruziboev marked a major career milestone at UFC Baku on June 27, 2026, submitting Andrey Pulyaev with a first-round rear-naked choke to extend his UFC winning streak to three consecutive fights.
The finish was the 34th of Ruziboev's career and arrived in his 50th professional bout, pushing the 32-year-old Uzbek to a record of 37-9-2. Fighting out of UZB Patriot, the six-foot-five orthodox middleweight stands 196 cm tall with a 76-inch reach. He averages 2.59 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy and adds 0.75 takedowns per 15 minutes, painting a picture of a well-rounded finisher who finds ways to end fights across multiple disciplines.
Pulyaev, 28, drops to 10-5 with the defeat and has now won just once in his last four outings. The Russian southpaw, who trains with Storm Shlemenko Fight Team, stood six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach and brought genuine striking punch into this contest, averaging 3.84 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 56 percent accuracy. However, the submission loss is the first of his career, exposing a vulnerability on the ground that opponents will note going forward.
Why it matters
- Ruziboev's three-fight UFC winning streak places him firmly in the middleweight contender conversation.
- The finish came in his landmark 50th professional fight, underlining his durability and longevity at the top level.
- Pulyaev's first career submission loss raises questions about his grappling defense and complicates his path back up the divisional ladder.
- A striker of Pulyaev's caliber being finished on the ground highlights the danger Ruziboev presents beyond his wrestling credentials.
