Preview: UFC Baku Prelims | The Return of Nursulton Ruziboev | Prediction, pick for Nursulton Ruz…

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Preview: UFC Baku Prelims

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The Return of Nursulton Ruziboev

Nursulton Ruziboev arrived in the UFC with more submission wins (20) than most newcomers have fights these days, and quickly made his presence felt in the middleweight division, earning stoppage wins over Brunno Ferreira and Sedriques Dumas to establish himself as someone to watch in the 185-pound weight class.

Then the six-foot-five fighter from Uzbekistan decided to drop down to welterweight.

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“What that taught me was that you do not want to come out not prepared and not ready,” Ruziboev said of what turned into a one-off venture to the 170-pound ranks ahead of his return to action opposite Andrey Pulyaev this weekend in the first of Saturday’s four middleweight contests in Baku, Azerbaijan. “Back then, I wanted to come out — my weight was 90kg, and I needed to cut down, and it was not a good decision. What my working weight is now is 84kg, which is middleweight — this is where I’m comfortable, this is where I do my best fights, and it’s an easy work weight for me to make.”

Prediction, pick for Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Andrey Pulyaev at UFC Baku

Cooper Albers previews Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Andrey Pulyaev at UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The UFC’s return to Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday night features a middleweight clash between Nursulton Ruziboev and Andrey Pulyaev. 

Ruziboev (36–9–2, 4–1 UFC) has won 12 of his last 13 bouts and returns to the cage for the first time since May 2025, when he scored a unanimous decision win over Dustin Stoltzfus. Pulyaev (10–4, 1–2 UFC) will look to rebound from January’s UD loss to surging prospect Ateba Gautier. 

Ruziboev enters as a -230 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Pulyaev is a +190 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.

For more detailed information, explore updates concerning Preview: UFC Baku.

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