Nursulton Ruziboev earned a first-round submission victory over Andrey Pulyaev at UFC Baku. Ruziboev locked in a rear-naked choke to secure the finish at the 3:58 mark.
Nursulton Ruziboev finished Andrey Pulyaev with a rear-naked choke at the 3:58 mark of the first round at UFC Baku on June 27, 2026, adding another submission victory to an already lengthy professional resume.
Ruziboev, nicknamed "Black," enters the record books with an impressive 37-9-2 career mark. The 32-year-old Uzbek fighter represents UZB Patriot and stands six-foot-five with a 76-inch reach. Fighting out of an orthodox stance, he averages 2.59 significant strikes per minute and has demonstrated consistent grappling pressure, averaging 0.75 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career.
Pulyaev, fighting out of Russia for Storm Shlemenko Fight Team, came in at 10-5-0 and had shown real promise as a striker heading into the contest. The 28-year-old southpaw is an imposing physical specimen at six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach, and he lands 3.84 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate. However, the rear-naked choke proved inescapable before he could work his preferred game.
Why it matters
- Ruziboev's vast experience, reflected in his 48-fight career record, was on full display as he controlled the grappling exchanges and secured the finish before the round's end.
- The loss halts whatever momentum Pulyaev had been building in the UFC, while Ruziboev strengthens his case for a higher ranking in his division.
- The stylistic contrast — Pulyaev as a high-volume striker against Ruziboev's takedown-oriented approach — ultimately played out in favor of the Uzbek veteran's ground game.
