St. Louis – Joaquin Buckley needed a dance partner, and Nursulton Ruziboev was down to drop to welterweight and fight in the co-main event of UFC Louisville on Saturday night.
“After Atlantic City I asked for June 1st. This was the fight card that I wanted to be on, but they called me and they told me that there was a fight in 170 that I can do against a top 15 opponent,” Ruziboev told reporters through a translator on Wednesday.
“Second I heard that I accepted the fight. I knew that I wanted to do it.”
Ruziboev (34-8-2) has fought at 170 and 155 before in his career. This will be his first UFC bout at welterweight however leaving many to wonder if he can make the weight safely.
“My weight is coming down pretty easy. Everything is going simple for me so I think I’m going to have no problem getting down there,” he said.
It’s not just the weight class that could cause him a problem, but he’s stepping in against Buckley in his hometown of St. Louis.
“I fought a lot in enemy territory so it doesn’t really matter to me because inside the octagon it’s going to be just me and him,” he said.
“Even though everybody going to be rooting for him, but he’s going to be the only one standing in front of me.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Nursulton Ruziboev above. He takes on Joaquin Buckley at UFC St. Louis on Saturday night.
