Nursultan Ruziboev submits Andrei Pulyaev, goes 5-0 at middleweight in UFC

Nursultan Ruziboev delivered a dominant performance at UFC Baku on June 27, submitting Andrei Pulyaev to push his UFC middleweight record to a flawless 5-0 and cement himself as one of the division's most dangerous rising forces.

Ruziboev, known as "Black," is a 32-year-old Uzbek fighter representing UZB Patriot with an overall professional record of 37-9-2. Standing six-foot-five at 196 cm with a 76-inch reach, the orthodox striker brings considerable physical advantages into every matchup. He lands 2.59 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy and has demonstrated enough grappling depth to finish opponents on the ground when opportunities arise. His only octagon defeat came at welterweight, against Buckley, making his run at 185 pounds unblemished across five appearances. Following the Pulyaev finish, Ruziboev called out a top-15 middleweight opponent, signaling his readiness to climb the divisional ladder.

The five-fight winning streak at middleweight ties Ruziboev with Nassourdine Imavov and Ateba Gautier for the longest active run in the UFC's 185-pound division. Imavov, ranked number one in the middleweight division, is a 30-year-old Frenchman out of MMA Factory carrying a 17-4-0 record. The six-foot-three orthodox fighter is one of the UFC's most active strikers, averaging 4.28 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 54 percent accuracy, and also contributes to the grappling game with one submission attempt per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Ruziboev's perfect 5-0 UFC middleweight record and public callout put pressure on the promotion to match him with a ranked opponent
• His tie with the number-one-ranked Imavov and Gautier for the longest active streak highlights just how quickly he has risen
• At six-foot-five with a 76-inch reach, Ruziboev presents a physically imposing challenge that few middleweights can match on paper