Nursulton Ruziboev Submits Andrey Pulyaev in First-Round Ground Assault at UFC Fight Night
In a clinical middleweight finish at UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres, Nursulton Ruziboev submitted Andrey Pulyaev in the first round at 3:58. Ruziboev improved his already impressive record while handing Pulyaev a tough loss in a fight that was decided almost entirely on the ground.
Clinical Takedown Game and Submission Finish Breaking Down Ruziboev’s Dominant Performance
The fight statistics highlight a grappling masterclass from Nursulton Ruziboev. While both fighters had relatively low significant strike numbers (only 1 of 3 for Ruziboev and 2 of 6 for Pulyaev), the story of the fight was written on the mat. Ruziboev went 2-for-2 on takedowns with perfect 100% accuracy, immediately taking the fight to the ground where he could impose his will.
Once the fight hit the canvas, Ruziboev needed just one submission attempt to end it. He converted that chance at 3:58 of round one, forcing Pulyaev to tap. The total strike numbers were close in volume but favored Ruziboev in accuracy (72.2% vs 65.2%), showing he was efficient even in the brief stand-up exchanges before shooting for takedowns.
This was not a wild brawl — it was a calculated, high-percentage performance. Ruziboev used his wrestling to dictate where the fight took place, eliminated Pulyaev’s striking advantage by bringing the action to the ground, and then finished the job with a sharp submission. The zero knockdowns from either fighter further confirm that this was a grappling-heavy contest decided by superior wrestling entries and ground finishing ability rather than stand-up power.
What This First-Round Submission Means for Both Fighters
This victory adds another impressive finish to Nursulton Ruziboev’s already stacked resume. With a record that now stands even stronger after this quick submission win, he continues to prove he is one of the most dangerous middleweights when it comes to mixing elite wrestling with finishing instinct. His ability to land takedowns at 100% accuracy and convert the very first submission attempt he attempted shows a high level of fight IQ and technical skill. Fans can expect to see Ruziboev’s stock rise quickly after this performance.
For Andrey Pulyaev, now standing at 10-6, the first-round submission loss is a reminder of how quickly fights can slip away against high-level wrestlers. While Pulyaev showed some resistance in the stand-up, he was unable to stop the takedown entries or survive once the fight went to the ground. He will need to sharpen his takedown defense and ground game if he wants to compete successfully against wrestlers of Ruziboev’s caliber moving forward.
Nursulton Ruziboev put on a textbook display of how to use wrestling to neutralize a striker and then finish on the ground. The middleweight division just saw a very efficient and dangerous performance, and Ruziboev’s quick first-round submission win will have plenty of people talking about his future in the division.
