Middleweights Nursulton Ruziboev and Dustin Stoltzfus faced off on the UFC Vegas 106 main card, with Ruziboev a moderate favorite in the fight.
Stoltzfus had been trading wins and losses of late, and was coming off a victory against Marc-Andre Barriault. Despite that bonus-winning performance, Ruziboev was given the edge on the strength of a resume that had him 3-1 in the UFC, with the only loss to Joaquin Buckley. At 185 pounds, Ruziboev was undefeated in the promotion with 33 stoppage wins in his career.
The first round saw Ruziboev press forward throwing a few front kicks to the body and jab that landed upstairs. Stoltzfus blitzed forward throwing a few heavy hooks before returning to the center of the cage. Ruziboev pushed forward and got cleaned by a right hand that sat the betting favorite down. Stoltzfus immediately grabbed a guillotine and threatened the choke from full mount. Ruziboev remained calm however, and reversed position ending up on top. Now landing solid ground and pound, Ruziboev returned to his feet. A spinning back kick connected for Ruziboev, but Stoltzfus ate the big shot and kept fighting. Ruziboev was starting to find a home for his straight right hand landing multiple big shots before securing a takedown. After getting dropped early in the round, Ruziboev rebounded nicely and seemed to have recovered.
In the early moments of round two, Nursulton attempted another spinning back kick but the strike was blocked. Stoltzfus decided to rush in for a takedown and got Ruziboev to the ground. The nose of Stoltzfus was now leaking blood while he was in the top position. Remaining in half guard, Stoltzfus was able to land good ground and pound before attempting a guillotine choke. Ruziboev escaped and had a minute thirty seconds left in the round to damage his opponent. Stoltzfus attempted a leg lock but was quickly reversed and ate multiple big elbows on the ground. Damaging shots were reigning down from Ruziboev near the end of the round.
In the third round both men seemed extremely spent after a hard fought ten minutes. Stoltzfus was able to land a few leg kicks at distance but continued to bleed from the nose. Ruziboev seemed exhausted and had low output through the early moments of the final frame. With two minutes left in the round Stoltzfus was able to land a takedown that may secure him the biggest win of his career. Ruziboev had no energy left to return to his feet and was controlled on the ground by Stoltzfus for another thirty seconds. Ruziboev got to his feet with nearly no time on the clock as the horn sounded.
Going to the judges scorecards they were unanimous but went in the direction of Ruziboev, a shock to the camp of Stoltzfus, who seemed like they thought the fight would go in their favor. Ruziboev now has successfully returned to the middleweight division with his second win at 185 pounds this calendar year.
Official Result: Nursulton Ruziboev def. Dustin Stoltzfus by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
