UFC Fight Night · Sep 05, 2026 · Middleweight · Scheduled
UFC Fight Night Next Fight
Age 39
Height 6' 3"
Reach 79.0"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Switch
Age 32
Height 6' 5"
Reach 76.0"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Michael Page
2.28 SLpM
58.0% Str. Acc.
1.51 SApM
62.0% Str. Def.
0.19 TD Avg
16.0% TD Acc.
70.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Nursulton Ruziboev
2.59 SLpM
46.0% Str. Acc.
2.89 SApM
48.0% Str. Def.
0.75 TD Avg
66.0% TD Acc.
33.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Michael Page - Fight History
UFC Fight Night · Sep 05, 2026
WIN vs Sam Patterson
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs. Murphy · Mar 21, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Page 0 27 of 55 49% 33 of 61 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
Sam Patterson 0 12 of 64 18% 25 of 78 0 of 2 0% 0 0 2:47
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Page 0 5 of 12 41% 5 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Patterson 0 4 of 11 36% 4 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Michael Page 0 10 of 24 41% 11 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Sam Patterson 0 2 of 26 7% 5 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:44
3 Michael Page 0 12 of 19 63% 17 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
Sam Patterson 0 6 of 27 22% 16 of 38 0 of 2 0% 0 0 2:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Page 27 of 55 49% 17 of 38 4 of 8 6 of 9 27 of 55 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sam Patterson 12 of 64 18% 4 of 50 4 of 6 4 of 8 10 of 60 2 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Page 5 of 12 41% 3 of 7 1 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sam Patterson 4 of 11 36% 2 of 8 1 of 1 1 of 2 4 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Michael Page 10 of 24 41% 6 of 16 3 of 4 1 of 4 10 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sam Patterson 2 of 26 7% 1 of 24 0 of 0 1 of 2 2 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Michael Page 12 of 19 63% 8 of 15 0 of 0 4 of 4 12 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
Sam Patterson 6 of 27 22% 1 of 18 3 of 5 2 of 4 4 of 23 2 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Mar 15, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Michael Page

Angelo picks Michael Page with extreme confidence, calling it the easiest money. He notes MVP is faster, cleaner, more powerful, and more technical everywhere. He believes Sam Patterson is chinny and that MVP should dominate. He references MVP's public complaints about the matchup.

calls -195 easiest money ever
"This has to be this has to be MVP. Like this ha The pick is MVP. If he loses to Sam Patterson, then cut his gloves off. Leave him in the octagon."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 16, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Michael Page

Big Brady confidently picks Michael Page, praising his unique striking and ability to avoid being hit. He notes that Page out-lands opponents at distance and that Sam Patterson has sub-50% striking defense and a suspect chin. He thinks Page will style on Patterson and potentially knock him out, predicting a second-round KO. However, he acknowledges that if Patterson gets the fight to the ground, he could win.

Michael Page by second-round KO
"Give me Michael Page here. Give me Michael Page to get his best performance yet and knock out Sam Patterson in the second round."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michael Page

Cody agrees with Paul, citing Page's experience against bigger opponents and Patterson's durability issues. He sees Page winning by KO or decision.

"I'm with you. I think MVP is the side here as well."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Connor picks Page, agreeing with Zane that Page is a clear favorite. He emphasizes that Page's style of moving around, mocking opponents, and landing clean shots is a nightmare for Patterson, who wants to step in and crack opponents. Connor notes that Page has shown he can remain calm against good fighters in the UFC, and Patterson's only path is if Page makes a rare mistake. He calls the booking a waste of both fighters' time.

Page opened at -155, dropped to -250, currently -180; Patterson opened at +135, jumped to +195, currently +155.
"If Sam Patterson is feasting out guys getting spooked by his aggression and jumping on opportunities, Michael Page is the king of never, ever, ever for a second, taking his eye off the ball."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant picked Mar 17, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Sam Patterson

Daniel Vreeland picks Sam Patterson as an underdog. He notes that MVP is older and dropping back down to welterweight, and Patterson has a strong submission game. If Patterson can get the fight to the ground, he can submit MVP.

"I'm going to pick the underdog Sam Patterson to come out here and choke out Michael Venom Paige in London."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Mar 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Sam Patterson

Daniel initially thought MVP would style on Patterson, but after analysis, he sees Patterson as a live dog if he can get the fight to the mat. He notes MVP's age, speed decline, and past takedown issues. He thinks Patterson might be able to capitalize on MVP's vulnerabilities.

"I think if Patterson can avoid prolonged exchanges on the feet and somehow get this to the mat, he might be a live dog here."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked Mar 20, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Sam Patterson

This is a true 50/50 fight: Page has striking advantage, Patterson has grappling advantage. Patterson is the value bet at underdog odds. If Patterson grapples, he can submit or ground-and-pound Page. The under 2.5 rounds is a strong play.

Under 2.5 rounds at 1.80 (-125) is a great value bet; fight likely ends inside distance.
"Patterson is still the better bet here."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Mar 15, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Sam Patterson

James picks Sam Patterson as a big underdog, believing Patterson's grappling is a massive threat. He notes that Page is a great striker but can be taken down, and Patterson has submission skills. He also cites Patterson's hunger and age advantage, and thinks the odds are off.

Sam Patterson inside the distance, submission
"I'm going to outright pick Sam Patterson to win this fight. I'm going to pick Sam Patterson to win this fight inside the distance. And I'm going to pick him to win it via submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 17, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michael Page

The host picks Michael Page by knockout. He believes Page's speed and counter-striking will be too much for Patterson, who may struggle to land cleanly. He expects Patterson to get frustrated and walk into a big shot. However, he notes the lack of reach advantage for Page could be a factor.

"Give me MVP by knockout."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 18, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michael Page

Paul thinks Page's speed and striking will be too much for Patterson, who stands upright and is hittable. He expects a KO or clear decision for Page.

"I do got uh I do got Venom Paige to pull off the victory here, likely by KO in my opinion."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

The MMA Guru picks Michael Venom Page to win by TKO, his first UFC finish. He notes Patterson is upright and has been caught with straight punches, while MVP is a crafty striker with underrated submission defense. He acknowledges Patterson's jiu-jitsu threat but believes MVP's range and timing will lead to a knockdown and finish.

first UFC finish by TKO
"I'll go MVP by finish this time. His first UFC finish by TKO."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 19, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Zane picks Page confidently, stating that Page is almost certain to beat Patterson. He notes that Page is the king of never getting shook up and always fights to his plan, while Patterson is an opportunistic finisher who relies on aggression and fear. Zane believes Patterson's style of pushing into the pocket and having terrible defense is perfect for Page to pick apart. He acknowledges a small chance Patterson could catch Page if Page times something wrong, but sees Page as a clear favorite.

Page opened at -155, dropped to -250, currently -180; Patterson opened at +135, jumped to +195, currently +155.
"I just think he's almost certainly going to beat Sam Patterson. If he doesn't, it's going to be purely based on him timing something wrong and Patterson catching him because Patterson is a great opportunist."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 319: du Plessis vs. Chimaev · Aug 16, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jared Cannonier 0 20 of 57 35% 46 of 88 2 of 7 28% 0 0 8:14
Michael Page 0 29 of 55 52% 36 of 64 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jared Cannonier 0 2 of 16 12% 10 of 24 0 of 3 0% 0 0 2:10
Michael Page 0 11 of 20 55% 11 of 21 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Jared Cannonier 0 10 of 25 40% 12 of 27 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:56
Michael Page 0 11 of 20 55% 12 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
3 Jared Cannonier 0 8 of 16 50% 24 of 37 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:08
Michael Page 0 7 of 15 46% 13 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jared Cannonier 20 of 57 35% 10 of 45 4 of 6 6 of 6 11 of 45 3 of 4 6 of 8
Michael Page 29 of 55 52% 19 of 45 8 of 8 2 of 2 27 of 53 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jared Cannonier 2 of 16 12% 0 of 14 1 of 1 1 of 1 2 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michael Page 11 of 20 55% 5 of 14 5 of 5 1 of 1 10 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Jared Cannonier 10 of 25 40% 3 of 16 3 of 5 4 of 4 7 of 21 3 of 4 0 of 0
Michael Page 11 of 20 55% 9 of 18 2 of 2 0 of 0 10 of 19 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Jared Cannonier 8 of 16 50% 7 of 15 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 8 0 of 0 6 of 8
Michael Page 7 of 15 46% 5 of 13 1 of 1 1 of 1 7 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Michael Page

Angelo believes this is a tailor-made matchup for MVP, as his speed and karate style will be too much for the powerful but slow Cannonier. He notes MVP has outstruck everyone in the UFC, including Ian Garry, and can pop in and out safely. He is surprisingly confident in MVP.

"This is a tailor made matchup for MVP. He can dance on the outside and rush in. Jared Cantaner is powerful, but he's not fast."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Michael Page

Big Brady picks Michael Page to win by decision. He notes Page is an incredible striker with a unique style that makes him hard to hit, and he has outlanded top strikers like Ian Garry and Kevin Holland. He thinks Cannonier will struggle to take Page down, as Cannonier has only one fight with more than one takedown. He favors Page heavily in distance striking and thinks Page wins a decision, possibly a knockout. He also mentions a prop bet on Page under 54.5 significant strikes.

Page under 54.5 significant strikes (Sleeper)
"I like Paige here. I think Paige wins a decision. Potentially even knocks out Caner, but I'll say decision here for Michael Paige."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Connor picks Page, arguing that Page can frustrate Cannonier from range and that Cannonier is slowing down and less likely to have fight-stealing moments. He notes that Page is comfortable with boring fights and can make Cannonier look slow and cumbersome. However, he acknowledges that Cannonier's strength in the clinch could be a problem, but Page's ability to tie up after striking may mitigate that.

Cannonier opened at +115, currently +165; Page opened at -135, currently -190
"I'm still going to pick page. I think that he can really frustrate Cannonier."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Michael Page

The host believes Page's elusive striking style will be too much for the veteran Cannonier. He predicts Page will pick apart Cannonier and eventually find a knockout in the second round.

knockout in the second round
"I believe the elusive striking style of Paige will be too much for the veteran here and I think that we'll see him pick apart Canoneer and I think that would eventually lead to him finding that knockout in the …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 13, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Michael Page

The Guru picks Michael Venom Page to win by decision over Jared Cannonier. He believes Cannonier will be too technical and hesitant to pressure Page effectively, instead opting for a low-output striking match. The Guru notes that Cannonier has a history of not taking risks, as seen in his fights with Marvin Vettori and Paulo Costa. He expects Page to outpoint Cannonier with movement and occasional highlights, winning a dull decision.

Decision win for MVP; low output fight; MVP lands about 22 significant strikes
"I'm going with Michael Venom Page over Jared Cananeer. ... I think Caner is going to lose a decision and I think it's going to be a fight where we're like why wasn't Canoneir risking it for the biscuit?"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Zane picks Page, noting that Page is a master of body language and can make even close rounds feel like his. He believes Cannonier is a middleweight version of Josh Koscheck, a tough but limited fighter who is winding down. Zane thinks Page's ability to pick his shots and avoid engagement will frustrate Cannonier, who doesn't cut off the cage well. He sees Page as a meme fighter who can carve a path to the top of the division.

Cannonier opened at +115, currently +165; Page opened at -135, currently -190
"I think I'll take page as well. I think, I mean, this is the thing with Michael Page and why he's so annoying to fight."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov · Feb 01, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sharabutdin Magomedov 0 38 of 87 43% 50 of 102 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
Michael Page 0 43 of 75 57% 47 of 81 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:50
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sharabutdin Magomedov 0 9 of 25 36% 9 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michael Page 0 13 of 21 61% 13 of 21 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:16
2 Sharabutdin Magomedov 0 7 of 30 23% 9 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michael Page 0 14 of 25 56% 15 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:34
3 Sharabutdin Magomedov 0 22 of 32 68% 32 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
Michael Page 0 16 of 29 55% 19 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sharabutdin Magomedov 38 of 87 43% 8 of 42 17 of 20 13 of 25 34 of 82 4 of 5 0 of 0
Michael Page 43 of 75 57% 23 of 53 11 of 12 9 of 10 38 of 69 5 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sharabutdin Magomedov 9 of 25 36% 1 of 10 2 of 3 6 of 12 9 of 24 0 of 1 0 of 0
Michael Page 13 of 21 61% 7 of 14 1 of 2 5 of 5 13 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Sharabutdin Magomedov 7 of 30 23% 0 of 18 5 of 7 2 of 5 7 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michael Page 14 of 25 56% 5 of 16 6 of 6 3 of 3 13 of 24 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Sharabutdin Magomedov 22 of 32 68% 7 of 14 10 of 10 5 of 8 18 of 28 4 of 4 0 of 0
Michael Page 16 of 29 55% 11 of 23 4 of 4 1 of 2 12 of 24 4 of 5 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Michael Page

Round 1
Next up: the middleweight co-main event, which pairs the unbeaten Magomedov (15-0, 4-0 UFC) with Page (22-3, 1-1 UFC) at 185 pounds. Herzog administers the law and order. Glove tap to start. Page bounces on his feet, darts in and out and trades leg kicks with the Russian. Another leg kick from Magomedov. Page looks content to snipe from the outside. He blocks a high kick, sneaks in a counter left and connects with a right hand over the top. Page stumbles throwing an overhand right, sheds a standing guillotine and clinches. They separate. Page zeroes in on the lead leg with kicks and sneaks in a right hand to the body. Magomedov stuck on the outside here. Nice lunging one-two from Page, followed by a low kick. Inside leg kick from Page. Magomedov answers with one of his own to the outside of the leg. Wheel kick from Page connects in the closing seconds.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Page
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Page
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Page

Round 2
On to the second round. Page back in his traditional karate stance, with his body angled and his hands low. The Englishman steps into a right hand and darts out of danger. Page utilizing feints to keep his counterpart guessing and unsure of himself. Jumping spinning back kick to the body from Page, who continues to have Magomedov flummoxed. They clinch in the center of the cage and break free. Magomedov scores with a side kick to the body and a counter left hook. Leg kicks from the Russian. Flying knee from Page glances off its target. Not nearly enough volume from Magomedov. Crowd chants “MVP.” Ninety seconds to go in the round. Page delivers a jab to the body and calmly backs away. Frustration building for Magomedov. They clinch. Page pushes his man into the fence with double underhooks. Magomedov going nowhere in his efforts to free himself. Page separates at the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Page
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Page
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Page

Round 3
Magomedov has a lot of work to do, or so it would seem, if he wants to keep his perfect record intact. Page picks up where he left off. Magomedov kicks the lead leg, only to eat a counter jab that snaps back his head. It feels like Page has all the answers here. Magomedov walks into a right hand, backs off and resets. The Russian losing valuable time. They clinch in the center of the cage, then separate. Page lands a standing elbow to the body and flicks out his jab. Midway through the final round. Page darting in and out with feints, then takes flight with a knee. Magomedov blocks it but winds up in the clinch. There, he feeds Page a few knees to the body. More chants of “MVP.” More knees to the body for Magomedov. Page breaks free and floats back into open space. Magomedov marches forward. Neither man throwing much. All the while, time ticks away. Nice counter left hook from Magomedov, who caught the karateka moving in. He follows up with a flurry, forces Page to retreat and gets off a leg kick before he resets. Page circles on the outside, slips on a kick and winds up on his back in the waning seconds.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (29-28 Page)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (29-28 Page)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Page (30-27 Page)

The Official Result
Michael Page def. Sharabutdin Magomedov—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jan 26, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Michael Page

Angelo picks Michael Page, calling it his 'last ride' with MVP. He notes Page's unorthodox karate style, speed, and ability to cover distance. He believes Page's striking will frustrate Sharabutdin Magomedov, who is creative but may struggle with Page's movement. He acknowledges Page's age (37) and the risk of a knockout loss, but thinks Page can win a decision. He suggests looking at prop bets like MVP +3.5.

Suggests MVP +3.5 (spread) and decision prop.
"I'm going to pick MVP this is probably my last ride with MVP"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 27, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Michael Page

Big Brady thinks the odds make no sense and favors Michael Page at plus money. He praises Page's striking defense, noting he made Kevin Holland and Ian Garry look silly. Sharabutdin Magomedov has 42% striking defense and is there to be hit. Brady expects a close fight but predicts Page wins by decision, possibly split. He doesn't see Magomedov wrestling.

decision
"I got to go paig here especially at like plus 170 I I just don't see in what world Shara is looking anywhere near minus 200 he's not going to wrestle he's not going to he's going to have a …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Connor picks MVP, expecting him to produce his typical frustrating fight. He notes that Magomedov is directionally aimless and has a punchable face that invites aggression, but MVP's style of staying at range and countering is difficult to deal with. Connor believes Magomedov's leg kicks could be a factor, but MVP's willingness to make the fight boring and his reach advantage give him the edge.

"I'm picking MVP, by the way. I know it's supposed to be your pick first, but yeah, I've got feeling I'm picking MVP. He's just too weird and I don't know."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

James picks Sharabutdin Magomedov to win, primarily due to hometown bias in Saudi Arabia favoring the Russian Muslim fighter. He also cites Magomedov's leg kick advantage against Page's karate stance, better durability, and finishing upside. He notes Page moves up to middleweight at 37-38, which is a disadvantage. He expects a close fight but sees Magomedov winning by decision, with potential for a knockout.

Magomedov by decision is implied; mentions leg kick damage and finishing upside.
"overall my prediction is going to be sh magedov wins the fight I'm going to say that he wins a fight via decision"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Page is very hard to hit and will set up counters effectively, potentially scoring a knockout if he lands the perfect shot. Magomedov lacks a wrestling background despite his name, which will be an issue. Page is expected to pick him apart similar to the Kevin Holland fight and win on the scorecards.

"I think that will cause him issues here as he goes up against a fighter in Page who is very hard to hit look for Page to set up a ton of counters move effectively maybe score a knockout if …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 28, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

The MMA Guru picks Sharabutdin Magomedov to win by late-round TKO via ground and pound. He believes Magomedov's kicks and clinch will cause problems for MVP, and that MVP's takedown defense is weak. He notes MVP struggled with Ian Garry's grappling and that Magomedov has been drilling takedowns. He thinks MVP's move to middleweight may reduce his presence.

late rounds finish, ground and pound TKO in the third
"I'm going to go Sharon magedov getting this one done late rounds finish maybe ground and pound TKO in the third"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Zane picks MVP, agreeing with Connor that Magomedov's lack of defensive structure and tendency to be countered will be exploited. He notes that MVP's style of frustrating opponents and waiting for mistakes is effective, and Magomedov's leg kicks may not be enough to overcome MVP's reach and movement. Zane expects a boring fight but sees MVP winning.

"I'm picking MVP, by the way. I know it's supposed to be your pick first, but yeah, I've got feeling I'm picking MVP. He's just too weird and I don't know."
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 · Jun 29, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ian Machado Garry 0 19 of 39 48% 65 of 101 2 of 5 40% 2 0 7:29
Michael Page 0 21 of 38 55% 52 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:52
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ian Machado Garry 0 2 of 6 33% 27 of 41 1 of 1 100% 2 0 3:52
Michael Page 0 2 of 6 33% 7 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Ian Machado Garry 0 9 of 21 42% 10 of 22 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:41
Michael Page 0 14 of 23 60% 31 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
3 Ian Machado Garry 0 8 of 12 66% 28 of 38 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:56
Michael Page 0 5 of 9 55% 14 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ian Machado Garry 19 of 39 48% 12 of 26 3 of 7 4 of 6 9 of 25 5 of 7 5 of 7
Michael Page 21 of 38 55% 15 of 28 4 of 5 2 of 5 19 of 34 0 of 1 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ian Machado Garry 2 of 6 33% 2 of 4 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 2
Michael Page 2 of 6 33% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 2 2 of 5 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Ian Machado Garry 9 of 21 42% 4 of 13 2 of 3 3 of 5 5 of 15 4 of 6 0 of 0
Michael Page 14 of 23 60% 9 of 16 3 of 4 2 of 3 12 of 20 0 of 0 2 of 3
3 Ian Machado Garry 8 of 12 66% 6 of 9 1 of 2 1 of 1 3 of 6 1 of 1 4 of 5
Michael Page 5 of 9 55% 4 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Ian Machado Garry

Cody picks Garry, emphasizing his youth, grappling advantage, and cardio. He notes that Page is 37 and has shown takedown defense issues, while Garry is a judo black belt with improving wrestling. Cody believes Garry will use leg kicks and clinch work to neutralize Page's movement, and that he can win a decision or possibly get a submission. He also mentions that Page's win over Kevin Holland was unimpressive and that Garry has the skills to implement a game plan.

"I'll take Ian Garry here likely by decision."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Ian Machado Garry

Daniel Vreeland picks Ian Garry because he believes Garry is smart enough to not let Michael Page fight his fight. He notes that Page's best performances come against opponents who are 'a little nuts' and willing to engage in chaos, but Garry is disciplined and won't be lured out of his game plan. Vreeland expects Garry to crowd Page, press him against the cage, and possibly mix in grappling to neutralize Page's striking range. He also points out that Garry has better grappling stats and is younger and more active.

"I think he's smart enough to not do that... Ian Gary I think you know despite the fact that some people haven't really liked him... the reason he's not exciting is because he's a guy who won't be lured out …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Daniel took MVP at plus 125 for two units, his first time picking against Garry. He believes MVP's speed and unorthodox style can fluster Garry, and that Garry's wrestling advantage is mitigated by MVP's improved takedown defense. He acknowledges the age difference (11 years) but sees MVP as an anomaly. He is worried about Garry's top control but is letting it ride.

"I took a MVP here I think plus 125 for two units this is my first time ever picking against Gary... I like MVP to come out here and kind of fluster Ian Gary with his speed."
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Ian Machado Garry

Jeff Fox picks Ian Garry, stating that Garry has proven he knows how to stay safe and use range and distance better than Page. He notes that Page did not look impressive in his win over Kevin Holland and didn't put his foot on the gas, which could get him in trouble against Garry. Fox believes Garry is a very good deal at minus 137.

"Give me the Irishman give me Ian masary... he's proven that he has what it takes... he knows how to stay safe in fights and how to use range and distance."
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)

The host does not discuss this fight at all in the transcript. The entire podcast is focused on the Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler fight, which is not on the provided fight card. Therefore, no pick is made for this fight.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Ian Machado Garry

The host is confident in Garry, emphasizing his superior grappling. He believes Garry will exploit Page's takedown defense and use his wrestling to take the fight to the mat, where he can control or submit Page. He notes Garry is not outmatched on the feet and expects the line to move to -160 or -170 by fight time. He also mentions a submission prop at +900 as a sprinkle.

Garry by submission at +900
"I think we will see mad Gary for the first time in his UFC career look to utilize his grappling and I think it's going to happen very effectively here."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 26, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michael Page

Paul picks Page by knockout, admitting he is betting with his heart because he dislikes Garry. He acknowledges that Garry has a grappling advantage but believes Page's power and flashy striking can end the fight at any moment. Paul notes that Page looked good against Kevin Holland and that Garry has been rocked before. He also mentions that Page is a plus-500 underdog by knockout, which offers value.

by knockout +500
"I may bet with my heart here and bet Michael Venom Page by knockout plus 500."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michael Page

The Guru picks Michael 'Venom' Page over Ian Garry. He believes MVP can make the fight boring and win by being selective with exchanges. He notes Garry's dismissive attitude as coping and thinks Garry is chinny. He predicts MVP will win by KO in round one or two, citing reach advantage and MVP's ability to win on the outside.

KO in round one or two
"I'm gonna go with MVP over Ian Gary... I think MVP is going to put him away and catch him on the chin"
WIN vs Kevin Holland
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 299: O'Malley vs. Vera 2 · Mar 09, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michael Page 0 29 of 61 47% 64 of 99 2 of 5 40% 1 0 4:22
Kevin Holland 0 41 of 62 66% 59 of 81 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:26
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michael Page 0 11 of 26 42% 30 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:54
Kevin Holland 0 17 of 27 62% 25 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:49
2 Michael Page 0 16 of 27 59% 26 of 37 1 of 2 50% 1 0 2:05
Kevin Holland 0 10 of 15 66% 14 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Michael Page 0 2 of 8 25% 8 of 15 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:23
Kevin Holland 0 14 of 20 70% 20 of 26 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michael Page 29 of 61 47% 11 of 37 4 of 6 14 of 18 18 of 47 4 of 5 7 of 9
Kevin Holland 41 of 62 66% 28 of 47 8 of 10 5 of 5 38 of 58 2 of 3 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michael Page 11 of 26 42% 4 of 19 1 of 1 6 of 6 9 of 24 2 of 2 0 of 0
Kevin Holland 17 of 27 62% 12 of 21 3 of 4 2 of 2 16 of 25 1 of 2 0 of 0
2 Michael Page 16 of 27 59% 7 of 15 3 of 4 6 of 8 8 of 16 2 of 3 6 of 8
Kevin Holland 10 of 15 66% 6 of 10 3 of 4 1 of 1 10 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Michael Page 2 of 8 25% 0 of 3 0 of 1 2 of 4 1 of 7 0 of 0 1 of 1
Kevin Holland 14 of 20 70% 10 of 16 2 of 2 2 of 2 12 of 18 1 of 1 1 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Kevin Holland vs. Michael Page
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-135), Page (+114)

Round 1
It is a striker’s delight coming up next, with a former Bellator fighter hoping to represent the UFC brand well. That ex-Bellator name would be Holland (25-10, 1 NC; 12-7, 1 NC UFC), who prevailed at Bellator 195 against Teagan Dooley prior to his Contender Series fight. He greets Super Fight League veteran Page (21-2, 0-0 UFC), who may have also fought somewhere that that the commentary booth will not likely say. This could be a wacky one, so referee Andrew Glenn better know what he is getting himself into. Although they have had a back-and-forth leading up to this “featured fight of the night,” the welterweights do touch gloves first. Page springs back and forth, his hands down, and he swats away a punch from his opponent. Holland swings wide, and Page nails him with a low kick. Holland lands a jab, and he misses with a heavy left hand as Page is quick in and out. Holland misses on a punch, and Page tags him back and tells the crowd to hush because it was just a punch. Holland grins at him, and he comes forward and swings with everything he has as Page starts doing the Ali shuffle. Holland ties him up against the fence, where he stomps Page’s toes and smacks him with his shoulder. Holland continues thumping the Brit with his shoulder, until Page throws him aside and resets to his preferred striking range. Page reaches with a right hand over the top, and he elbows Holland on the temple when leaping forward. Page backs off and then jumps back in to grab Holland from behind, and Holland shrugs it off and absorbs an elbow when they break. Page delivers a kick to the side, and he hurts Holland with a right hand and makes a face at him. Holland charges and catches Page with a single elbow, but he gets blasted with an overhand right from the awkward Page. Page scores another huge right hand, and Holland responds with a low kick that knocks him off his feet momentarily. Page springs up and the two tie up, and Holland heel kicks the back of the thigh of Page. Holland uses open-handed slaps to box the ears, and he pulls himself free. Page dodges and connects with a clean right hand, and he strafes out of the way. Holland lunges forward, and even with a reach advantage, he cannot quite get off a shot on his opponent. Holland kicks the lead leg, and they crash together in a clinch. Holland pushes him to the wall, and he knees the Brit once before Page splits away. Page spins with an elbow that drill Holland in the forehead, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Page
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Page
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Page

Round 2
Holland is all smiles to start off the second round, and after a glove touch, he narrowly avoids a spinning wheel kick. Holland charges and catches Page at the end of a right hand, and he bullies Page to the fence. Holland uses the close range to knee his foe in the thigh a few times before Page splits off, and they resume their distant striking approaches. Holland comes up short on a winging right hand as Page is in and out like the wind, and Page pops him with a short right hand. Page considers an axe kick, and when he spins with a back kick, he topples over. “Trailblazer” charges after him, nearly dragging Page down from behind, and Page stands up. Holland drags him down from behind, and he practically falls into back control. Holland hooks up a choke, and Page turns to put his back to the mat so he can break it up. Holland lowers himself down and slashes with elbows, and he smothers his opponent in half guard. Page tries to sit up, and Holland presses him back down and elbows him a few more times. Page works his way to his knees and gets back to his feet, and he makes Holland pay for the ground game by nailing Holland with an overhand right. Holland almost walks face-first into a short right on the way in, and he whiffs with his own big right. Holland kicks behind the knee of his opponent, and Page connects with a short right hand. Page lands with a hard right hand, and he slings Holland to the ground. Holland is hurt, but Page does not bother finishing him in this position and instead lets him get back to his feet. Holland kicks the body and head, and he walks into a spinning back elbow. Holland races ahead after him, missing with most of his strikes, and the clinch ends the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Page
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Page
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Page

Round 3
The last round begins with Page charging, and he connects with a right hand and trips Holland up to throw him down. Holland laughs when he hits the ground, and Page appears to offer an apology, perhaps because he missed the glove touch. Holland climbs back up, and he ties Page up. Page tosses his foe down to a knee, and Holland pops back up and grabs Page from behind. Holland brings Page down to his knees, and Page fights his way to his feet and shoves Holland away. Page clips him with a fierce right hand, and he tosses Holland down and starts dancing. Holland rolls back to his feet and looks frustrated as Glenn lets him up. Page sprints in with two punches and a head kick, and Holland defends against it and takes a jumping side kick. Holland’s gas tank runs on empty as Page kicks him in the stomach. When Holland advances, Page spins with a back elbow that cuts Holland on the cheek. Page then trips and dumps him to the ground, and Holland climbs back up and crashes forward only to miss. Page ties him up, and the two start talking when clinched up. Page pushes him away, and he steps away from a low kick and lands a straight left hand. Holland grips a single, and this only pushes Page back to the wall so he can stomp his toes. Page stops any possible takedown and scoots away, and he leaps forward to nail Holland with a right hand. Holland stops the sweep that follows, and he walks into a body shot. Holland flails at air, unable to find his mark, and he dances away and is angry while telling Page to fight him. Page does not bite, so Holland pushes up close to him to clinch as the fight ends. The crowd does not love the conclusion of the fight, but it was the end of a one-sided performance for the showman Page, who has introduced himself to the UFC in a memorable way.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Page (30-27 Page)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Page (30-27 Page)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Page (30-27 Page)

The Official Result
Michael Page def. Kevin Holland via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Mar 3, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Michael Page

Angelo leans Michael Page, citing his unorthodox karate style, speed, and power. He thinks Page's awkwardness will cause Kevin Holland to miss and then look to wrestle. He acknowledges this is Page's toughest test and that Holland is durable and composed. He has a small bet at even money but won't parlay Page.

Half unit bet on Page at +100.
"MVP is going to be the pick I have a small bet on him at plus 100 even money"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michael Page

Big Brady picks Michael Page to win by decision. He notes that Holland has poor fight IQ and likely won't grapple, so the fight will stay on the feet. He expects a close, competitive striking match that goes the distance, and he takes the dog in Page. He has low confidence and thinks the judges could get it wrong.

win by decision
"I'll take Paige to here to win the win a close decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kevin Holland

Cody thinks Holland has the durability and volume to overwhelm Page, and that Holland can exploit Page's lack of recent activity and questionable chin. He notes that Holland has a clear path to victory via wrestling, but acknowledges Holland might choose to strike instead.

Holland by submission (+800)
"I think Holland goes to his wrestling he wins this fight if he chooses to be an idiot and not go to his wrestling I think there's a good chance that he could actually just clip MVP with a nice …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michael Page

Daniel is confident in MVP, citing his unorthodox striking, speed, and improved takedown defense. He dismisses the idea that Holland will wrestle, noting Holland averages less than one takedown per 15 minutes and is not a wrestler. Daniel believes MVP's distance and angles will frustrate Holland, and that Holland makes boneheaded mistakes. He bet MVP at plus 115 and expects a low-output striking match that could go to a split decision or a knockout of Holland.

"I think MVP is the side here I bet him at dog ODS May the best man win"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Daniel Vreeland also picks Michael Page, though he initially hesitates. He notes that Page's recent results are actually improving and that his only losses are to Douglas Lima and Logan Storley, both via wrestling-heavy game plans. Vreeland argues that Page is still a better kickboxer than Holland and that Holland's path to victory is wrestling, but he doubts Holland can execute that game plan. He points out that even Douglas Lima couldn't consistently wrestle Page, so Holland may struggle. Vreeland concludes that Page's striking is enough to win.

"I think I might buck that fact that I don't know if this is the prime version of him anymore cuz like I mean look at his recent results it seems like the results are getting better."
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Michael Page

Jeff Fox picks Michael Page as a dog, citing Kevin Holland's tendency to strike rather than grapple. He believes Holland will choose to strike with Page, which plays into Page's strengths. Fox notes that Page is past his prime but still has the striking prowess to beat Holland. He references Page's losses to Douglas Lima and Logan Storley, but argues that Page's striking is still elite and that Holland is not a strong wrestler. Fox is confident that Page's kickboxing will overwhelm Holland.

"Give me the dog I'm going with Michael Venom Page here uh I don't trust Kevin Holland I don't trust that he's going to Grapple which probably should be what he does here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 4, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Michael Page

Page is a devastating striker with incredible speed, precision, and power. Holland will likely try to strike with him early, but his wrestling is not good enough to consistently take Page down. Page has good footwork and distance management to avoid takedowns and land his own shots. I expect Page to touch up Holland and eventually find a knockout in the second or third round. Holland's tendency to leave openings when his wrestling fails will be his downfall.

Page by KO/TKO in rounds 2-3
"I do like paig here to touch up Kevin Holland uh maybe even knock him out in the second or third round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kevin Holland

Paul believes Page is past his prime and hasn't fought in a year, while Holland is durable and has a significant experience advantage. He thinks Holland can use his wrestling to control Page, but also notes that Holland might choose to stand and trade, which could be risky.

Holland by submission (+800)
"I think Holland goes to his wrestling he wins this fight if he chooses to be an idiot and not go to his wrestling I think there's a good chance that he could actually just clip MVP with a nice …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michael Page

The MMA Guru picks Michael Page, predicting a boring fight but a win. He believes Page's low kicks will be key, as Holland has poor leg kick defense. He expects Holland to get frustrated and drop his output, and Page will drop him off-balance with a straight right. He cites Holland's losses to fighters who used leg kicks effectively.

low kicks, drops Holland
"MVP is going to drop Holland ... I think MVP is going to chew up his leg at range"
Nursulton Ruziboev - Fight History
SCHED vs Michael Page
UFC Fight Night · Sep 05, 2026
SCHED vs Andrey Pulyaev
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Andrey Pulyaev vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ruziboev (-225); Pulyaev (+180)

Round 1
Lanky middleweights Ruziboev and Pulyaev engage at a word from referee Marc Goddard. Pulyaev is southpaw, Ruziboev orthodox. Pulyaev is mobile early, circling around the outside as Ruziboev moves more conservatively, cutting off the cage and reaching out with range-finding jabs. Ruziboev grabs a snatch single-leg and dumps Pulyaev to his seat at the base of the fence. Pulyaev stands back up, and Ruziboev drags him to the canvas once more, moving to the Russian’s back and going supine in the middle of the cage with nearly three full minutes to work. Pulyaev guards his neck and tries to sit up, but Ruziboev is ultra-patient, locking up a modified body triangle, boxing Pulyaev’s ears with short punches and looking for a chance to reapply the choke. This is like watching a python swallow a goat. Ruziboev sinks an arm under the chin and squeezes, and Pulyaev is astral traveling within seconds. The man is out cold, eyes wide open, and Goddard steps in for the save. Ruziboev gets up to celebrate, leaving Pulyaev facedown and snoozing. Wow.

The Official Result
Nursulton Ruziboev def. Andrey Pulyaev R1 3:58 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

AJ picks Ruziboev due to his veteran savvy, 47-fight experience, and 20 submission wins. He thinks Pulyaev's resume is thin and that Ruziboev can outwork him, possibly mixing in takedowns. He expects the fight to go over 1.5 rounds and likes Ruziboev by decision or late finish.

Ruziboev by submission +1000; Ruziboev by decision +250; Ruziboev wins over 1.5 rounds +115; over 1.5 rounds -190; Pulyaev by decision +525; Ruziboev wins by submission over 1.5 +2000.
"I think Rzzy Boy is the smarter pick. I think Rzzy Boy wins the fight."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

AJ thinks Ruziboev can outgrapple Pulyaev and win a decision or submission. He notes Pulyaev is not physical, skinny, and lacks damaging power, while Ruziboev has a decent ground game and hits harder. AJ expects Ruziboev to bully Pulyaev in the clinch and on the mat.

Submission +900, Over 1.5 rounds -165
"Rzzy Boy could outgrapple Palv could win some of the striking exchanges. Pallay is just not physical at all."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Lean picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

AJ DeVito mentions Nursulton Ruziboev by submission at +1000 as a DGEN prop, noting he has many submission wins. He is not overconfident but thinks it's live.

Ruziboev by submission at +1000.
"Rzzy Boy of by submission. I think it's life to hit. um not overconfident in it because you know Bolive's decent everywhere but Rzzy Boy does have a shitload of sub wins."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Lean picked Jun 22, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

AJ leans towards Ruziboev by decision, citing his superior MMA grappling, experience (47 pro fights), and ability to control the cage. He expects Ruziboev to outwork Pulyaev over three rounds, mixing in clinch work and takedowns. Pulyaev is durable but less versatile.

Over 1.5 rounds -170. Ruziboev -200 favorite.
"I'm gonna go with Nur Sultan Rzzy Boy. I think he probably wins a decision."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Angelo includes Ruziboev in a parlay of confident picks, suggesting he expects him to win. No further analysis is provided in the transcript.

"We took Shara Bullet, Nazim Sadykhov... Asu Almabayev, Farman who we've already bet, Yakhyayev, Ruziboev and Donchenko."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Angelo is very confident in Nurullo, citing his well-rounded skills and size advantage. He believes Nurullo will mix in takedowns and win on the ground or striking. He notes that Andre Pulyaev is tough but that this matchup is worse for him than his last fight. He thinks -225 is a discount.

minus 225 feels like a discount
"Nurmagomedov is good everywhere. It's not single threaded. ... I think Nurmagomedov gets it done. I'm very confident in him. Minus 225 honestly feels like a bit of a discount at this point."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Angelo picks Ruziboev, highlighting his wrestling and grappling skills from regional tape. He notes that Ruziboev is a good striker and a very good grappler, and expects him to win by wrestling after getting jabbed a few times. He is surprised the line is tightening.

"I think Nerzleton wins this fight. I think he probably gets jabbed up a few times then decides to wrestle and if he wants to wrestle he can run away with it. So Nerzleton is the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Andrey Pulyaev

Big Brady picks Andrey Pulyaev to win by decision, though he dislikes the fight. He notes Pulyaev runs away and throws low-volume kicks, but Ruziboev is also low-volume and won't grapple. Brady thinks Pulyaev's 'BS' striking might be enough to win a terrible decision, calling it a potential 'worst fight in UFC history.' He will not bet on it.

win by decision
"I'm going to take Polyv to win by decision. I think this is probably going to be the worst fight in UFC history"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Cody passes on this fight, not having strong conviction. He might consider a Ruziboev round one prop at plus 300, but otherwise no play.

Ruziboev round 1 prop at +300
"if I do play this and I I don't really have too much conviction, it would be a rusey round one prop, which is like plus 300ish"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Daniel Levi leans towards Nursulton Ruziboev, citing his urgency and willingness to push the pace compared to Andrey Pulyaev, who tends to get on his bike and not do enough. He respects Pulyaev's durability and craftiness but believes Ruziboev will try harder and take the fight to him. Levi expects a competitive fight but trusts Ruziboev's gas pedal more.

"I'm going to go Nur Sultan Rouso because I'm more confident that he's going to try harder."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Jacob picks Ruziboev by submission, noting his submission arsenal is more dangerous than anything Pulyaev has faced. He thinks Ruziboev has sneaky power and can finish via submission or KO. He likes the submission prop at a good price.

Nursulton Ruziboev wins by submission
"I'm going to take a dog shot on Nultton Rous Boy by submission here. I know that a lot of people are going to be looking at the KO here, but I think that he is live for both the …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Andrey Pulyaev

Lucrative James picks Andrey Pulyaev despite it being a risky pick, because he believes Pulyaev's activity, body shots, and improving striking will be key. He notes that Ruziboev has cardio issues and doesn't look good outside round one, and that Pulyaev has faced tough competition recently. He expects Ruziboev to hurt Pulyaev early, but Pulyaev to take over in rounds two and three and win a decision.

"I am going to end up picking Pulv in this one. ... I'm going to say that he's able to negate the grappling offense ... and Pulv's striking brings him to a win. So yeah, ... I'm going to end …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

The host is not a big fan of Ruziboev but thinks this matchup allows him to land big shots on Pulyaev and mix in his grappling. He predicts a submission victory for the Uzbek native.

Ruziboev wins by submission
"I think this is a match up for him to go out there and land his big shots on Pulyaev, and eventually mix in his grappling behind it, and I think that will lead to a submission victory for the …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Ruziboev is aggressive and will bully Pulyaev, finding a big shot to wobble him and then jumping on a submission. Pulyaev has a striking base but Ruziboev's pressure and reach disadvantage for Pulyaev should allow Ruziboev to control the pace. However, Ruziboev is not a favorite to play at chalk.

Ruziboev by submission
"I think he eventually finds a big shot to Wobble Pulv and I think from there he jumps onto a submission and forces the tap from the Russian."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Andrey Pulyaev

Paul picks Pulyaev as a dog, citing his southpaw stance, volume, and reach advantage. He notes Ruziboev's low volume and limited skills, and believes Pulyaev will outwork him. He sees value at plus money.

"I got Pulv. It's another Dogger Pass type spot."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Jun 26, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Andrey Pulyaev

The Guru leans with Pulyaev via decision, considering him a live underdog. He notes Pulyaev's mobility, southpaw stance, and difficulty to finish, while Ruziboev has not fought in a while and may struggle with Pulyaev's range and kicks. He sees it as a pick'em fight.

Underdog pick
"I'm going to lean with Pulive via decision here as the pick."
CANCEL vs Bryan Battle
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 10, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Angelo has been a big supporter of Ruziboev since his UFC debut and picks him here. He highlights Ruziboev's wrestling and grappling prowess, his size at 6'5, and his power, noting that Battle missed weight and is moving up to middleweight where his power may not carry. He believes Battle is not big enough for the weight class and that Ruziboev's chin and skills will prevail. He bet on Ruziboev at +150.

bet at +150
"I'm picking Nerzleton and I bet on Nerzleton at plus 150."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Aug 12, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Big Brady picks Nursulton Ruziboev to win by second-round knockout. He notes Ruziboev has massive size, reach, and power, and that Battle has poor striking defense (44%). He thinks Battle will walk into big shots and could get knocked out. He also mentions Ruziboev's takedown defense is improving and Battle is not a wrestler at middleweight. He acknowledges Ruziboev is low volume but dangerous, and could win by damage-based decision or knockout.

Ruziboev by KO, round 2
"I'm going to take Ruseabova to win this fight. I'll take him to win this fight by second round knockout."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Aug 15, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Ruziboev. He notes that Battle's pressure and aggression vanished against Randy Brown, and that Ruziboev is a good-sized middleweight who can out-wrestle Battle in the clinch. He thinks Ruziboev's positional fighting inside is better than Battle's. He acknowledges that Ruziboev's wins have been against lower-level competition, but believes this matchup favors him.

"I think he's going to tall man clinch Brian Battle and out head position him. And out wrestle him with out working for underhooks, really. And that's what that's going to be the fight."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 13, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

The Guru picks Nursulton Ruziboev to win by TKO in the first two rounds. He believes Ruziboev's height and reach advantage will be problematic for Bryan Battle, who won't be able to use his physicality as he did against Randy Brown. The Guru notes that Ruziboev is a dirty fighter who will cheat to win, extending fingers and grabbing the cage. He also mentions Ruziboev's dynamic movement and ability to dart in and out, which will be difficult for Battle to handle.

TKO in first two rounds; Ruziboev wins by TKO
"I'm actually going to go with Ruseo getting this one done by TKO. ... I think he'll finish Brian Battle in the first two rounds."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Aug 15, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Zane picks Ruziboev, despite thinking of him as a can crusher. He notes that Battle does not like fighting tall, long opponents and looked wary against Randy Brown. He thinks Ruziboev will out-clinch Battle with head position and underhooks, and that Battle's positional clinching is poor. He acknowledges Ruziboev's thin game but believes his strengths match up well against Battle's weaknesses.

Ruziboev opened +120, now +145; Battle opened -140, now -170. Zane says he won't mind being wrong.
"I get the distinct impression that Brian Battle does not like fighting guys that are fighting long opponents. Or big guys, bully opponents. He's a size bully. And hence why he was clearly cutting such a catastrophic amount of weight …"
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales · May 17, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Dustin Stoltzfus 0 21 of 37 56% 41 of 62 2 of 5 40% 2 0 5:11
Nursulton Ruziboev 0 35 of 68 51% 53 of 94 1 of 2 50% 0 2 3:21
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Dustin Stoltzfus 0 5 of 13 38% 10 of 18 0 of 1 0% 1 0 1:14
Nursulton Ruziboev 0 13 of 27 48% 21 of 36 1 of 1 100% 0 1 1:24
2 Dustin Stoltzfus 0 2 of 3 66% 14 of 18 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:13
Nursulton Ruziboev 0 11 of 19 57% 21 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:55
3 Dustin Stoltzfus 0 14 of 21 66% 17 of 26 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:44
Nursulton Ruziboev 0 11 of 22 50% 11 of 23 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Dustin Stoltzfus 21 of 37 56% 5 of 19 4 of 6 12 of 12 19 of 34 1 of 2 1 of 1
Nursulton Ruziboev 35 of 68 51% 24 of 53 8 of 11 3 of 4 24 of 52 1 of 1 10 of 15
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Dustin Stoltzfus 5 of 13 38% 2 of 10 1 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Nursulton Ruziboev 13 of 27 48% 8 of 19 2 of 4 3 of 4 11 of 25 1 of 1 1 of 1
2 Dustin Stoltzfus 2 of 3 66% 1 of 2 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1
Nursulton Ruziboev 11 of 19 57% 9 of 17 2 of 2 0 of 0 2 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 14
3 Dustin Stoltzfus 14 of 21 66% 2 of 7 2 of 4 10 of 10 13 of 19 1 of 2 0 of 0
Nursulton Ruziboev 11 of 22 50% 7 of 17 4 of 5 0 of 0 11 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Dustin Stoltzfus vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ruziboev (-298), Stoltzfus (+240)

Round 1
From one action fight to another we go, this time in the middleweight division. Stoltzfus (16-6, 3-5 UFC) has only gone the distance twice in his eight UFC outings, while all three wins inside the Octagon for Ruziboev (35-9-2, 2 NC; 3-1 UFC) have come by knockout. Referee Chris Tognoni knows he very well might be needed before the final horn. There is a no glove touch, as Stoltzfus declines to do so. Ruziboev accepts this and lets go with an early leg kick. Stoltzfus pulls back on a body kick, but Ruziboev does not do that as his lands flush. The Uzbekistani fighter scores a calf kick, and Stoltzfus does the same. The calf is the target for Ruziboev, until he swings his way in with two booming punches. Stoltzfus tries to grab hold of the taller man, but Ruziboev tosses him aside and lines up a straight right hand. The two clash heads together, and Stoltzfus manages to land the cleaner of the two and knocks “Black” to his seat. Stoltzfus rushes forward and jumps guard with a guillotine choke, and he steps into full mount and wraps the submission up and under the chin. Ruziboev pats Stoltzfus’ backside but it is not registered as a tap, and Stoltzfus imposes his weight to complete the maneuver. Ruziboev thinks about giving up but explodes to flip Stoltzfus over, and he gets into the guard and just hangs out there to get his wits back about him. Ruziboev postures up to drop down a punch and an elbow, and Stoltzfus works his way up and ignores a guillotine setup from his opponent. Stoltzfus times a spinning back elbow to break, and the two split up. Ruziboev opens up with a left hand and a spinning back kick, and his second spin kick misses as Stoltzfus cracks him with a counter. Ruziboev bounces around to shake it out, leaping forward to deliver single punches that connect each and every time. Stoltzfus is tough as can be, but Ruziboev slugs him in the chops until he wraps his arm around the Pennsylvanian and wrangles him to the mat. The bell sounds, to the surprise of many.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Stoltzfus
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev

Round 2
The second round opens with a head kick from Ruziboev after a bit of measuring. After some more timing, Ruziboev lets loose a spinning wheel kick that bangs square into Stoltzfus’ head. Stoltzfus swings his way forward, catching Ruziboev and putting him on his heels. Stoltzfus pursues a takedown, and Ruziboev defends with a kimura. Stoltzfus fights it off and lowers Ruziboev to his back, his nose pouring blood from a particularly nasty uppercut. Stoltzfus gets in half guard and pursues an arm-triangle choke, letting it go to bash Ruziboev with punches and short elbows. Stoltzfus sets up another guillotine choke and leans to the side, and Ruziboev turns to defend it. This allows Stoltzfus to briefly pursue a brabo choke, only to let it go when he does not have the right leverage. Ruziboev powers back to his feet and finds himself in guillotine danger once more, but the blood covering Ruziboev’s melon plus the fatigue setting in allows him to slip out. Ruziboev counters with a knee to the body, and he smacks Stoltzfus with a hammerfist and inadvertently headbutts him. Ruziboev keeps slugging away, and Stoltzfus snatches up a leg and turns into it to drag Ruziboev down to a knee. Ruziboev pulls on the fence to defend it, as Tognoni shouts at him to knock it off. The damage is done from the foul, as Ruziboev escapes and lowers himself down to start pounding on the bloodied Stoltzfus again. Stoltzfus sways to avoid the worst of the ground-and-pound, and he lands his own sneaky shots off his back right before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev

Round 3
The last round kicks off with both men taking a moment to analyze the other. Ruziboev darts in with a jab and a body kick, and Tognoni warns that the kick went south of the border. Stoltzfus is no worse for wear, and he lets the fight continue. Clubbing Ruziboev’s lead leg with his shin, he knocks the taller man to his seat and times a right hand to drive into his jaw. Ruziboev twists around to stand back up, and he parries a front kick aimed at his chest. Stoltzfus rushes at him, ducking a punch to tie his man up, and Ruziboev darts away in time. Ruziboev reaches his target with a left hook, and Stoltzfus kicks him in the front leg. Ruziboev times a right hand over the top, and he spins and drills Stoltzfus in the face with a wheel kick. Stoltzfus takes it on the chin and lashes out with a right hand, and he gets knocked back with an overhand right counter that bangs into his gloves. Stoltzfus lets fly his own spinning wheel kick, and it clatters off the guard. Ruziboev does the same. They crack one another with single right hands, and then connect with hard lefts. As Ruziboev swings for the fences, Stoltzfus tackles him to the ground and lands in half guard. Stoltzfus imposes his weight while not getting much offense off, looking instead to advance position. Tognoni asks Stoltzfus for more activity, as Stoltzfus is solely covering his foe’s mouth but not offering any strikes. Stoltzfus climbs into mount with 50 seconds to go, and Ruziboev scrambles like a madman to get to his knees. Stoltzfus wraps up the beginning of a brabo choke, and when Ruziboev fights through it, he transitions to a guillotine. Ruziboev pulls out of it, and he delivers a spin kick to the ribs. Ruziboev nails the American with a right hand, and they proceed to miss with spinning strikes before time expires. They raise their fists in the air after 15 minutes of bloody combat.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev (29-28 Ruziboev)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Stoltzfus (29-28 Ruziboev)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Stoltzfus (29-28 Ruziboev)

The Official Result
Nursultan Ruziboev def. Dustin Stoltzfus via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 11, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Angelo picks Nursulton Ruziboev confidently, calling him an absolute beast. He highlights Ruziboev's massive 6'5" frame, wrestling and grappling prowess, and a good chin. He notes that Ruziboev's only UFC loss was to Buckley at 170 lbs, which is credible. Angelo expects Ruziboev to be patient, eat a few shots, and then pour it on later. He finds the -280 odds affordable and suggests the over might be sneaky good if a round line is available.

Angelo suggests the over on a round line might be sneaky good because Ruziboev has an incredible chin.
"Nerzleton's the pick. The minus 280 odds seem pretty affordable."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 15, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Dustin Stoltzfus

Big Brady picks Dustin Stoltzfus as a plus-240 underdog, citing Ruziboev's poor takedown defense and lack of volume. He believes Stoltzfus can take Ruziboev down and control him, making Ruziboev's power useless. He expects a decision win if Stoltzfus fights smart.

Stoltzfus by decision
"I'm taking Stoultz here, believe it or not. ... I think he has all the tools to to win this fight. So I'll say Solstus wins this fight by decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Dustin Stoltzfus

The host acknowledges Ruziboev's power and striking advantage but notes he has been grinded out by lesser grapplers. He believes Stoltzfus, with his BJJ black belt and wrestling improvements from Extreme Couture, can get Ruziboev to the ground and grind him out from top position, either winning on the scorecards or finding a submission.

Stoltzfus by decision or submission
"As long as Stoultzfus has really minded his P's and Q's in this fight and really sharpened his game with the help of extreme couture, he should be you able to utilize his BJJ black belt and wrestling improvements to …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 16, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

The Guru picks Nursulton Ruziboev, calling him a dirty fighter who moves well and has a ton of experience. He thinks Ruziboev is better at middleweight with more power. He notes Stoltzfus has been styled on by opponents like Bruno Ferreira and doesn't see a path to victory. He predicts a TKO in the first or second round.

Ruziboev by TKO in round 1 or 2
"I'm gonna have to go with Nultton Marusv TKO in the first or second round."
WIN vs Eric McConico
KO R2 0:33 · UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song · Feb 22, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nursulton Ruziboev 2 20 of 42 47% 24 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:36
Eric McConico 0 5 of 13 38% 6 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nursulton Ruziboev 0 13 of 24 54% 14 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:30
Eric McConico 0 4 of 10 40% 5 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Nursulton Ruziboev 2 7 of 18 38% 10 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
Eric McConico 0 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nursulton Ruziboev 20 of 42 47% 15 of 35 4 of 6 1 of 1 13 of 30 6 of 11 1 of 1
Eric McConico 5 of 13 38% 1 of 5 1 of 3 3 of 5 5 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nursulton Ruziboev 13 of 24 54% 8 of 17 4 of 6 1 of 1 12 of 23 1 of 1 0 of 0
Eric McConico 4 of 10 40% 0 of 3 1 of 2 3 of 5 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Nursulton Ruziboev 7 of 18 38% 7 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 7 5 of 10 1 of 1
Eric McConico 1 of 3 33% 1 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Eric McConico vs. Nursulton Ruziboev

Round 1
Moving right along, two men that rarely leave matters to the judges will clash to start building momentum in the wide-open middleweight category. After a tough loss, Ruziboev (34-9-2, 2 NC; 2-1 UFC) is returning to 185 pounds, and he will be welcoming Tuff-N-Uff vet McConico (9-2-1, 0-0 UFC) to the world-famous Octagon. Referee Keith Peterson is on guard, ready to step in at a moment’s notice and bust up any nonsense. A fist bump precedes the action, and McConico opens up with a slapping low kick as “USA” chants loudly echo throughout the building. McConico parries a front kick fired at him and chambers a head kick in response, only to not let it go. As the fighters circle one another without much activity, the fans let the fighters have it with a swath of boos. Ruziboev tries to answer their calls for action with an overhand right, but he misses the mark by a wide margin. Ruziboev tries for another as a counter, and he skims the side of the head when McConico attempts a kick. McConico is out of range with most of his strikes, and Ruziboev reaches him at the end of a right hand right on the pectorals. Ruziboev jams a front kick to the liver, and he is answered with a low kick. Ruziboev surges forward with a right hand, and he shakes his head when McConico fails on a counter. Ruziboev blitzes after another lull in action, and a second flurry gets his hands on his opponent. McConico rips a kick to the ribs, and “Black” wraps him up and pushes him to the fencing. Dirty boxing from the newcomer allows him to break out of the tie-up, and he has a head kick slap off the raised guard to little impact. The crowd is not impressed, even as Ruziboev marches forward and zings a few straight punches down the middle. A low kick from McConico is answered by a one-two, and this exchange happens a second time. The Uzbekistan ends the round with a body kick and a right hand.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev

Round 2
The fighters clap hands to get going, and McConico is energized as he puts a pair of punches on the chin to reintroduce himself. Ruziboev fires right back, and this slugfest is exactly where McConico does not want to be. The taller, longer man unloads and nails McConico with a strong combination of punches, causing McConico to wobble and stumble his way to the fence. McConico falls to his face and works his way up under fire.
Ruziboev chases, swinging with all his might, allowing the newcomer to get back to his feet so he can blast him once more with several relentless right hands. As McConico hits the deck a second time, Peterson has seen enough, with McConico turning to his side and in a bad, bad way.
The victor walks off screaming, letting out all of his remaining emotions after registering the knockout. That marks 33 finishes in the 35 wins for the Uzbekistan native, who at 6-foot-5 will be a tough matchup for a lot of fighters in the weight class. To make matters more interesting, Ruziboev informs commentator Michael Bisping that he is willing to fight at either 77 or 84 kgs, meaning 170 pounds or 185 pounds.

The Official Result
Nursulton Ruziboev def. Eric McConico R2 0:33 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 16, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Angelo is confident in Nursulton Ruziboev, noting he is a big middleweight with wrestling and power, and that this weight class suits him better than welterweight. He thinks McConico is not dangerous enough on the feet to pose a real problem, and expects Ruziboev's wrestling to be a big advantage. He assumes both fighters are in shape despite short notice.

"I think Nursulton has another showcase win here... these odds minus 300 assuming everybody's in shape make a ton of sense."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Feb 17, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Big Brady picks Nursulton Ruziboev but hates the -300 price tag, calling it unwarranted. He notes that Ruziboev hasn't proven much in the UFC, with wins via eye poke and one-punch knockout, and was taken down by Warlley Alves for three rounds. However, he thinks Ruziboev's size, length, and power will be too much for Eric McConico, who has durability issues and is coming in on short notice. He predicts a first-round knockout.

by first round knockout
"I got to go rabo again I hate the minus 300 don't lay minus 300 on this dude but I'm going to pick rabo to win this fight by first round knockout"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 20, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Eric McConico

The host notes McConico is on short notice but in shape from a recent fight. He expects McConico to use a game plan similar to Buckley's, keeping Ruziboev on his back and out of danger, winning on the scorecards.

"look for makano to try to utilize the same game plan as walking Buckley keeping ruzi boov on his back keeping him out of danger and eventually winning this fight on the scorecards"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 21, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

The Guru picks Ruziboev based on 'light man skill' and experience fighting at welterweight, implying he had to be good to win there. He criticizes McConico's late-career signing at age 34, lack of finishing potential, and weak resume. He expects Ruziboev to piece him up and finish him.

"I'm going with rabo but there you go there's a story line I doubted him if he pulls off the upset good for him"
LOSS vs Joaquin Buckley
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–26, 29–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento · May 11, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Joaquin Buckley 1 86 of 156 55% 113 of 187 4 of 4 100% 0 1 5:30
Nursulton Ruziboev 0 31 of 72 43% 43 of 87 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Joaquin Buckley 0 8 of 23 34% 8 of 23 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:16
Nursulton Ruziboev 0 7 of 22 31% 11 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Joaquin Buckley 0 14 of 27 51% 23 of 37 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:42
Nursulton Ruziboev 0 8 of 21 38% 15 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Joaquin Buckley 1 64 of 106 60% 82 of 127 0 of 0 --- 0 1 2:32
Nursulton Ruziboev 0 16 of 29 55% 17 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:34
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Joaquin Buckley 86 of 156 55% 70 of 137 14 of 17 2 of 2 15 of 50 0 of 0 71 of 106
Nursulton Ruziboev 31 of 72 43% 17 of 46 13 of 24 1 of 2 23 of 59 1 of 1 7 of 12
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Joaquin Buckley 8 of 23 34% 5 of 18 2 of 4 1 of 1 4 of 14 0 of 0 4 of 9
Nursulton Ruziboev 7 of 22 31% 4 of 15 3 of 6 0 of 1 7 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Joaquin Buckley 14 of 27 51% 8 of 21 5 of 5 1 of 1 7 of 18 0 of 0 7 of 9
Nursulton Ruziboev 8 of 21 38% 3 of 13 5 of 8 0 of 0 8 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Joaquin Buckley 64 of 106 60% 57 of 98 7 of 8 0 of 0 4 of 18 0 of 0 60 of 88
Nursulton Ruziboev 16 of 29 55% 10 of 18 5 of 10 1 of 1 8 of 16 1 of 1 7 of 12
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Joaquin Buckley vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Buckley (-166), Ruziboev (+140)

Round 1
Ever since moving down to 170 pounds, the 5-foot-8 kickfighter Buckley (18-6, 8-4 UFC) has found a new lease on life, even if he tries to move up a more logjammed division with contenders waiting ages for title shots these days. Looking to crash that party will be Uzbekistan finisher Ruziboev (34-8-2, 2 NC; 2-0 UFC), who has shifted back and forth from welterweight and middleweight over the years. Knowing that one of these men may need smelling salts in the foreseeable future, referee Keith Peterson is ultra-prepped and ready for the nonsense-free proceedings. There is a stern staredown between the two that ultimately results in no touch of gloves. Buckley crowds his way forward to begin, and he backs away from a front kick that is aimed his direction. Buckley shifts to the left and right while trying to find his way in, and Ruziboev is warned for outstretched fingers. Ruziboev reaches with a right hand, and Buckley comes at him swinging. Ruziboev ducks away from a huge overhand left, and he tries to line up straight shots to intercept the shorter man coming in. Ruziboev misses another front kick, and he lets Buckley fly past him when Buckley is winging shots. The crowd starts chanting “USA,” and Buckley absorbs this energy and surges forward, where he takes a flush flying knee to the body and tackles Ruziboev to the ground. Buckley is wrapped up when landing on top, with Ruziboev hooking his arms around Buckley’s to hope for a stalemate that results in a standup. Buckley is pushed away, and he swings when Ruziboev fights back to his feet. Ruziboev returns fire and clips him, and Buckley retreats only to sprint forward and smash straight into Ruziboev’s chest to put him flat on his back. Buckley decides after landing a few strikes to stand back up, and Ruziboev follows him up. Buckley hops away from a front kick and scores a low kick, and his jabs as well out of range. Buckley keeps his guard up to block a high kick, and his blitz of a few looping strikes come up short. Buckley raises his hand in the air as he circles away, and he tells Ruziboev to fight him. Ruziboev motions to come get him, and Buckley answers as he leaps forward throwing wild hooks. Buckley spins with a back kick that is brushed off, and he walks off disappointed. Ruziboev runs at him and jumps with a flying knee, but Buckley is elsewhere as the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Buckley

Round 2
Buckley appears to have a fire lit in his belly as he starts the second round, as he races forward and releases a big kick early. Ruziboev retreats and measures Buckley with a right hand. Buckley resets and blazes forward, ripping Ruziboev off of his feet and tossing him down to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Ruziboev uses his offensive guard to kick Buckley off of him, and Buckley allows him to get back up. Ruziboev gets off a right hand that partially connects, and Buckley closes in and lands as body shot. Ruziboev trots forward with his arms outstretched, and he walks into a front kick to the sternum. Buckley chases Ruziboev around and shrugs off a right hand so he can unload with body shots. Buckley takes a flush knee and responds with a right hook that lands cleanly. Buckley is struck with another knee on the way in, and is still struggling to find the range. A side kick from “New Mansa” finds its target, and his guard is high enough to block a straight right hand from his foe. Ruziboev splits the guard with a front kick and hops away from winging hooks that whiz past him. Buckley starts pointing around the cage, and he tries to use this misdirection to charge in and crack his foe. He gets off a big right hand and wrenches Ruziboev down to the mat, slamming him down and landing in side control. Buckley puts a knee on the belly, and Ruziboev pulls him back to guard. Buckley rains down punches, and Ruziboev answers with an armbar that Buckley completely ignores. The round ends, Buckley helps his foe up and they embrace.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Buckley

Round 3
Hands are clapped together to begin the final round. They use alternating jabs to still look for their respective distances, and Buckley leaps forward and pulls back before reaching the target. Buckley has a right hand glance off the target, and Ruziboev replies with a few body shots. Buckley eats a left hand and laughs it off so he can blast Ruziboev in the face with bombs. Buckley knocks Ruziboev off his feet down to his seat, where he moves to top position, and Ruziboev flails frantically with his legs and lands a few upkicks to get Buckley away. Buckley holds on the neck when Ruziboev sits up, and Ruziboev escapes and tries to land some shots. Buckley chases after him and connects with some punishing blows, and Ruziboev goes down again. Buckley leaps on top and begins an onslaught of ground-and-pound when he gets to mount, and he hammers Ruziboev with punches as Ruziboev’s face has been bloodied up. Ruziboev struggles to hang on and grabs the glove to protect himself, so Buckley frames off with his elbow and clobbers him with additional elbows. Ruziboev survives the assault somehow and sweeps the shorter man, and he ignores a triangle setup to move into the half guard so he can blast Buckley with his own offense. Buckley twists and turns, and he explodes to turn Ruziboev over and put him down again. Buckley sits up and jackhammers Ruziboev with right hands, and Peterson is watching closely as Ruziboev’s eye is busted up. Buckley unleashes with everything he has, and Ruziboev responds with several illegal upkicks that land on the spine and the back of the head. Peterson calls time to acknowledge the foul, and Buckley asks for them to be stood up. Ruziboev tries to offer a glove touch, and Buckley shrugs him off. Ruziboev loads up on a head kick, and Buckley walks him down and slugs him in the chops right to the final horn. This matchup somehow has gone the distance, although it is no question who will get their hand raised.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Buckley (30-26 Buckley)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Buckley (30-27 Buckley)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Buckley (30-26 Buckley)

The Official Result
Joaquin Buckley def. Nursulton Ruziboev via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked May 5, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Angelo picks Nursulton Ruziboev, citing his wrestling and grappling ability, as well as his power in his hands. He notes Ruziboev is a much larger fighter and a capable striker, but worries he might abandon his grappling for striking. He acknowledges Joaquin Buckley's speed, power, and improved movement, but believes Ruziboev's wrestling could be the difference.

"I am still going to pick nelton rabv here and that's because nelton rabv I think can be the real deal"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 8, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Big Brady picks Nursulton Ruziboev to knock out Joaquin Buckley in the first round, calling it a shot in the dark. He notes that Buckley has been knocked out multiple times (by Holland, Curtis, etc.) and Ruziboev has a ton of power. However, he admits he still doesn't know much about Ruziboev, who has over 40 fights but mostly first-round finishes. He thinks Ruziboev's power might be the difference, and if he beats Buckley, he will gain hype.

"I'm going to take the upset we here with ROV really really a shot in the dark cuz again just still not don't know what to think of this guy"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 7, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Cody picks Buckley, noting that Ruziboev has a poor record at 170 lbs (7 of 8 losses at that weight) and tends to gas after the first round. He highlights Buckley's speed, cardio advantage, and ability to explode with big shots. Cody believes Buckley can survive an early onslaught and take over in later rounds, especially with the crowd behind him in St. Louis. He also notes that Ruziboev's takedown defense is suspect and Buckley could mix in wrestling.

"I got Buckley terms of Buckley's own offensive wrestling he's actually a decent not great decent wrestler I think he could force the issue on RAB boov"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked May 9, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

Daniel Vreeland picks Joaquin Buckley, noting that Buckley has experience against larger opponents and that Ruziboev's ceiling is likely top 30. He believes Buckley can extend the fight and find his range, and that Ruziboev struggles when he doesn't get an early finish. He also mentions the risk of a letdown spot for Buckley after a big win.

"I do think that he's gonna be able to shine in the co-main event especially if he can extend this fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 7, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Joaquin Buckley

The host picks Buckley to win by knockout in rounds 2 or 3, citing his experience and fight IQ against a less tested opponent. He expects Buckley to mix in grappling and wear down Ruziboev before landing a big shot. He notes Ruziboev's size and reach but questions his weight cut and competition level. The pick is confident for the finish, though he acknowledges unknowns about Ruziboev.

Buckley knockout round 2 or 3
"I'm going to go Buckley knockout probably round two or round three"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked May 7, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Paul leans towards Ruziboev but is hesitant, citing his size and power advantage. He notes that Ruziboev has a 10-fight winning streak with all finishes in the first round, but his record at 170 is poor. Paul worries about the weight cut and cardio, as Ruziboev has not gone past the first round in years. He suggests waiting for weigh-ins to see how Ruziboev looks at 170. Paul acknowledges Buckley's improvements but thinks Ruziboev could be a 'merer' if he lands early.

"I still think I like ROV I'm going to wait until the weigh ends though"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 7, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

The MMA Guru picks Nursulton Ruziboev over Joaquin Buckley, noting Ruziboev's reach and rangy striking style. He believes Buckley's boxing-heavy approach will be neutralized by Ruziboev's length and uppercuts, and that Ruziboev's willingness to cheat (eye pokes) could be an advantage. He predicts a TKO win via uppercut as Buckley comes in.

TKO, uppercut
"I'm gonna go with nasam Rusev... TKO going to say uppercut as Buckley comes in."
TKO (punches) R1 3:18 · UFC on ESPN: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot · Mar 30, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nursulton Ruziboev 1 12 of 32 37% 12 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Sedriques Dumas 0 1 of 16 6% 1 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nursulton Ruziboev 1 12 of 32 37% 12 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Sedriques Dumas 0 1 of 16 6% 1 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nursulton Ruziboev 12 of 32 37% 11 of 30 1 of 2 0 of 0 11 of 25 0 of 0 1 of 7
Sedriques Dumas 1 of 16 6% 1 of 13 0 of 2 0 of 1 1 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nursulton Ruziboev 12 of 32 37% 11 of 30 1 of 2 0 of 0 11 of 25 0 of 0 1 of 7
Sedriques Dumas 1 of 16 6% 1 of 13 0 of 2 0 of 1 1 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Sedriques Dumas vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ruziboev (-265), Dumas (+215)

Round 1
Ruziboev and Dumas go to work under the supervision of referee “Shaolin” Ribeiro. Both middleweights are in orthodox stance, and Dumas comes forward with kick feints and a long jab. Ruziboev isn’t throwing anything back, but once he has the read, he nails Dumas with a righty counter over the jab. Dumas backs off, and when they come together again, Ruziboev meets him with an uppercut up the middle. Ruziboev tries a lead left hook that glances, and backs away from a Dumas front kick. Dumas continues to match forward, but he backs away from the ensuing collision pawing at his right eye. He looks at the referee, but Ribeiro either didn’t see a foul, or saw a legal strike.
Ruziboev gives no quarter, coming forward and laying into Dumas with a string of punches. Dumas wilts under the barrage, covering up as Ruziboev pours on the punishment. Ribeiro interposes himself for the stoppage, but this is going to be one heavily viewed replay.
The replay, when it comes, shows Ruziboev appearing to drag his open fingers across Dumas’ face during one of the final exchanges. We will see if that leads to any sort of appeal in the coming days.

The Official Result
Nursolton Ruziboev def. Sedriques Dumas R1 3:18 via KO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 24, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Angelo is very confident in Nursulton Ruziboev, calling him a 'grappling beast' who will ragdoll Sedriques Dumas. He criticizes Dumas as 'kind of terrible' and notes that even Cody Brundage took him down. He believes Ruziboev should be the biggest favorite on the card and recommends betting now before the line moves.

"nelton rabv is a Savage Beast who is going to win this fight I'm very very confident in him"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 25, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Big Brady picks Nursulton Ruziboev to win by first-round submission. He highlights Ruziboev's size (6'5" at middleweight), power, and dangerous submission game, noting he has many rear-naked choke wins. He criticizes Dumas for poor performances, getting hurt by lesser opponents, and questionable cardio. Brady believes Ruziboev is a level above everywhere and will submit Dumas when the fight hits the mat.

"give me ntan rizab to win this fight I think he wins it by first round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Mar 28, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Cody acknowledges Ruziboev's first-round finishing ability but worries about his cardio if the fight goes past the first. He notes Dumas's poor life choices and questionable cardio but thinks Ruziboev's durability and skill advantage should carry him, though the price (-260) is unappealing.

"rusol is the play"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Daniel Vreeland picks Nursulton Ruziboev, citing his massive experience (over 40 fights) and finishing ability. He notes Dumas is still green, has been submitted before (by Josh Fremd), and may have distractions outside the cage. He thinks Ruziboev will expose Dumas on the ground, though he doesn't advocate betting at -250.

"I have a feeling that nuron is gonna expose him on the ground here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Mar 26, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Ruziboev has a height advantage and aggressive striking, but Dumas has a 3-inch reach advantage. Ruziboev's experience (42 fights) and recent camp at Marquez MMA in Philly are positives. Dumas is still unproven; his wins came against Cody Brundage (who jumped guillotine) and Abdul Razak Alhassan (coming off long layoff). Ruziboev's aggressiveness should be the difference, but he must avoid leaving his neck open for a choke. Prediction: Ruziboev inside the distance.

Ruziboev inside the distance; Dumas by decision as a sprinkle
"I'm going to lean with ruzi B Dumas absolutely alive Underdog"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 28, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Paul is high on Ruziboev, calling him a 'monster' and noting his size, power, and training in Philly. He contrasts Ruziboev's focused Instagram with Dumas's partying and legal issues, believing Ruziboev will starch him early.

"I'm picking rabo of to win the fight here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

The host picks Nursulton Ruziboev, criticizing Sedriques Dumas' wins as coming against opponents with low fight IQ. He believes Ruziboev is more experienced and has a higher fight IQ. He predicts Ruziboev will win, possibly by using his grappling and striking advantage.

"I'm going to go nult Rusev via probably having above a 50 IQ I think it's all it's going to take here"
KO (punches) R1 1:17 · UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov · Jul 01, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nursulton Ruziboev 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brunno Ferreira 0 6 of 9 66% 6 of 9 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nursulton Ruziboev 0 3 of 5 60% 3 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brunno Ferreira 0 6 of 9 66% 6 of 9 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nursulton Ruziboev 3 of 5 60% 0 of 0 0 of 1 3 of 4 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brunno Ferreira 6 of 9 66% 5 of 8 0 of 0 1 of 1 3 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nursulton Ruziboev 3 of 5 60% 0 of 0 0 of 1 3 of 4 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brunno Ferreira 6 of 9 66% 5 of 8 0 of 0 1 of 1 3 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 4
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Brunno Ferreira vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ferreira (-195), Ruziboev (+165)

Round 1
Make no mistake, the UFC chose violence for this main card opener in the middleweight division. With an astounding 42 finishes across their 44 pro wins, both Ferreira (10-0, 1-0 UFC) and the debuting Ruziboev (34-8-2, 2 NC; 0-0 UFC) would not like to leave this one on the hands of the judges. Ready to intervene at any second will be referee Mark Smith. The fighters clap hands together, and Ruziboev moves to the center of the cage while Ferreira switches stances several times. Ferreira absorbs a clean calf kick from a safe distance, and he blocks a jump kick and throws a front kick back. Ferreira slams his shin on the outside calf, and Ruziboev turns his leg to prevent some of the damage. Ruziboev steps in with a few punches, and Ferreira springs out of the way.
Ruziboev catches a low kick and drills a straight right hand down Broadway. Ferreira hits the mat, his head bouncing off the floor, and he is stunned badly. “Black” hammers the nail with a fierce series of punches, putting “The Hulk” to sleep with his final onslaught.
Smith waves the fight off, and Ruziboev has just stamped the significant upset while becoming the first fighter to beat the hard-charging Brazilian. With 33 finishes in his 35 victories, including this crushing knockout of a well-regarded talent, Ruziboev names himself as one to watch going forward.

The Official Result
Nursulton Ruziboev def. Brunno Ferreira R1 1:17 via KO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jun 25, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

Angelo picks Brunno Ferreira but with low confidence. He acknowledges Ferreira's insane power but questions his takedown defense against a wrestling specialist like Ruziboev. He notes that Ruziboev is a live underdog and may flip his pick if the line moves. He advises avoiding betting on this fight entirely.

may bet Ruziboev if underdog line grows
"Brunno will still be the pick but like by this much because he does have insane power"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

Big Brady picks Brunno Ferreira to win by first-round knockout. He is more impressed with Ferreira's Contender Series win and his knockout of Gregory Rodriguez than any of Ruziboev's opponents. He notes Ruziboev has poor takedown defense and Ferreira has solid wrestling and devastating ground and pound. He acknowledges Ruziboev could be legit but feels Ferreira is the safer pick.

first round knockout
"I'm gonna say Ferreira does knock him out though in the very first round I'll say he takes him down gets on top and pounds him out can be Bruno Ferreira by first round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 28, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Nursulton Ruziboev

Cody sees Ruziboev as a greasy underdog with plus money. He notes Ruziboev has 44 pro fights, has improved since moving to Daniel Gracie's team, and has a size and grappling advantage. Ferreira has big power but questionable cardio and grappling. Cody thinks Ruziboev can win by wrestling and cardio, though he acknowledges the unknown level of competition.

"the plus money in Roosevelt looks pretty okay"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 29, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

Daniel leans Ferreira but with low confidence due to the late opponent change and Ruziboev's length and experience. He notes Ferreira's explosive power and first-round finishing ability, but worries about closing distance against a 6'4" fighter with 20 submission wins. He acknowledges Ruziboev's poor cardio and decision record (2-6), but sees Ferreira's path to victory via takedowns or power shots. He is less confident than in the original matchup against Razak.

"I'm gonna lean for era but not as confident as I was in his initial matchup"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Jun 28, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

Paul picks Ferreira but is not confident. He notes Ferreira's power and KO of Gregory Rodrigues, but questions his cardio and grappling. Ruziboev is an unknown with a strange record. Paul thinks Ferreira's power gives him a chance, but he doesn't feel great about the pick.

"I'll pick Ferreira but mine is 200. um I really don't think there's enough like meat on the bone there that I feel confident in that selection"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

The Guru picks Brunno Ferreira, noting his power and strength advantage. He criticizes Ruziboev's striking as sloppy and open to getting chinned, and believes Ferreira will stuff takedowns and land a big shot for a KO. He also notes Ruziboev's submission wins come off his back, but Ferreira won't shoot takedowns.

KO
"I'm gonna go with Bruno for hair... he lands that big shot and puts away rizzobov by KR"