Nursulton Ruziboev submitted Andrei Pulyaev at UFC Baku, extending his UFC middleweight record to a perfect 5-0 and his overall UFC mark to 5-1. The finish gives Ruziboev 20 submission victories in his professional career. Following the win, he called for a top-15 middleweight opponent, stating he has turned down no challenges.
Nursulton Ruziboev picked up the most significant victory of his UFC tenure at UFC Baku on June 27, 2026, submitting Andrei Pulyaev to run his UFC middleweight record to a flawless 5-0 and his overall UFC mark to 5-1.
The 32-year-old Uzbek, who fights out of UZB Patriot under the nickname "Black," stands six-foot-five with a 76-inch reach and carries a professional record of 37-9-2. The finish against Pulyaev was his 20th submission victory across his career, underlining a grappling-first approach that has defined his time in the Octagon. Ruziboev averages 0.75 takedowns per 15 minutes and has proven difficult to keep off the mat at middleweight.
Pulyaev, a 28-year-old Russian southpaw out of Storm Shlemenko Fight Team, entered the bout at 10-5-0. The six-foot-four heavyweight frame and a 78-inch reach gave him a physical presence, and his 56 percent striking accuracy suggests he can be effective on the feet, but Ruziboev's submission game proved too much to handle.
Following the victory, Ruziboev made his ambitions clear, calling for a top-15 middleweight opponent and noting publicly that he has turned down no challenges.
Why it matters
- Ruziboev is now a perfect 5-0 inside the UFC at middleweight, a run that is difficult to ignore for ranking purposes
- His callout puts him in line for a ranked opponent, with number-one contender Nassourdine Imavov — 17-4-0 and the division's top-ranked fighter — among those in the tier he is targeting
- A matchup with any top-15 middleweight would represent a significant step up and serve as a real measuring stick for where Ruziboev stands in a stacked 185-pound division
