Similar to he did all through his profession, Nursulton Ruziboev hopes he can bounce round weight lessons within the UFC.
Ruziboev (34-8-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) drops again all the way down to welterweight to face Joaquin Buckley (18-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 56 (ESPN/ESPN+) co-headliner at Enterprise Middle in St. Louis.
Ruziboev’s first two octagon appearances got here at middleweight, scoring back-to-back first-round knockouts of Brunno Ferreira and Sedriques Dumas. Ruziboev, who most not too long ago competed at welterweight in February 2022, insists the transfer again down might be seamless.
“Once I combat at middleweight, I do my weight lower in simply someday,” Ruziboev informed MMA Junkie by way of an interpreter. “Final day, I do weight (lower), and for me that is simple for 170 proper now. Proper now, I’m (about 190 kilos) as a result of for me it’s simple, 170. Not an excessive amount of weight lower.”
Like Khamzat Chimaev did upon signing with the UFC, Ruziboev has plans of competing at each welterweight and middleweight shifting ahead.
“Now I’ve (to) concentrate on this combat at 170 proper now with Buckley, and after this combat, I would like to speak with my administration,” Ruziboev stated. “If doable, I need to combat at middleweight and welterweight.”
Ruziboev meets Buckley, who has discovered nice success since shifting again all the way down to welterweight himself. Buckley is 3-0 as a 170-pounder within the UFC.
“Buckley is an effective fighter,” Ruziboev stated. “I watched him combat earlier than the UFC after I fought with a special promotion. He’s good, however now could be my time. I have to combat with the most effective. If you need (to be) the most effective, you’ll want to combat with the most effective.”
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