Nursulton Ruziboev
Nursulton Dilshodbek ugʻli Roʻziboyev is an Uzbek professional mixed martial artist and boxer who currently competes in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Background
Ruziboev was born on November 19, 1993, in Shahrixon, in the Andijan Region of Uzbekistan. He has two brothers and one sister. His brother, Mashrabjon Ruziboev, is also a professional mixed martial artist.Starting at age 7-8, he began training in karate, and during his youth, he also trained combat sambo. Ruziboev began training mixed martial arts at the age of 16. In 2012, he left the country for Russia, where he worked to support his family. In 2013, he returned to Uzbekistan to participate in hand-to-hand combat tournaments. Ruziboev also earned a master's degree from Uzbekistan National University.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
In 2014, Ruziboev began his professional career in Kazakhstan's Alash Pride organization. He has fought under prominent organizations such as Brave Combat Federation, Absolute Championship Berkut, and Fight Nights Global. Ruziboev is a former Middlewight Champion of the Open Fighting Championship and WEF Global.Ultimate Fighting Championship
In 2023, Ruziboev signed a contract with the UFC and made his debut against Brunno Ferreira on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48. He won the bout via KO in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night.Ruziboev was scheduled to face Caio Borralho on November 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis. However, Ruziboev withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Abusupiyan Magomedov.
Ruziboev faced Sedriques Dumas on March 30, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 54. He won the bout via TKO in the first round.
Ruziboev faced Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight bout on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Ruziboev was scheduled to face Rinat Fakhretdinov on October 26, 2024, at UFC 308. However, Ruziboev withdrew from the fight due to an injury and was replaced by former [Legacy_Fighting_Alliance#LFA_Welterweight_Championship|LFA Welterweight Champion] and promotional newcomer Carlos Leal.
Ruziboev faced promotional newcomer Eric McConico in a middleweight bout on February 22, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 252. He won the fight by technical knockout in the second round.
Ruziboev faced Dustin Stoltzfus on May 17, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 256. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Ruziboev was scheduled to face The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega middleweight tournament winner Bryan Battle on August 16, 2025 in a middleweight bout at UFC 319. At the weigh-ins, Battle weighed in at 190 pounds, four pounds over the middleweight non-title fight limit. The bout was scheduled to proceed at catchweight, however shortly thereafter, it was announced that the bout had been cancelled.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
Ultimate Fighting Championship- * Performance of the Night Asian Fighting Championship Akhmat
- * AFCA Middleweight Tournament winner World Ertaymash Federation
- * WEF Middleweight Championship World Fighting Championship Akhmat
- * WFCA Welterweight Championship Open Fighting Championship
- * OFC Middleweight Championship
Professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Azamat Ergashev | 4 | May 5, 2022 | Sport Palace Yunusabad, Tashkent, Uzbekistan | ||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Bakhrom Payazov | 2 0:54 | Mar 14, 2022 | Sport Palace Yunusabad, Tashkent, Uzbekistan |