Michael Page vs Nursulton Ruziboev Prediction & Preview - 9/5/2026
Updated September 3, 2026
Updated September 3, 2026
Michael Page and Nursulton Ruziboev meet Saturday, September 5, at UFC Paris in a middleweight fight between two very different styles of fighter. Page remains one of MMA’s hardest strikers to read, using a wide stance, constant feints and sudden entries to score without spending much time in conventional exchanges. Ruziboev is 7 years younger, 2 inches taller, and carries far more submission experience. The question is whether Ruziboev can turn his size and grappling into enough control time to disrupt Page’s rhythm.
Polymarket currently prices Page at 62¢, giving him a 62% implied probability of winning. Ruziboev sits at 39¢. Page deserves to be favored, and my projection makes the gap slightly wider.
Page has produced 4 consecutive UFC victories since losing to Ian Machado Garry in June 2024. Three of those wins came against Shara Magomedov, Jared Cannonier, and Sam Patterson, with Page winning all 3 by unanimous decision. His ability to limit clean offense is central to his success and should help him get a win here.
Fighter | Michael Page | Nursulton Ruziboev |
|---|---|---|
Age | 39 | 32 |
Height | 6'3" | 6'5" |
Reach | 79" | 76" |
Stance | Switch | Orthodox |
Record | 25-3 | 37-9-2 |
Page’s recent run has shown that his unusual style can translate against experienced UFC opposition. After dropping a unanimous decision to Garry, he defeated Magomedov at middleweight in February 2025 and followed that with another unanimous decision over former title challenger Cannonier in August. Page then returned to welterweight in March 2026 and defeated Patterson by unanimous decision. He now moves back to 185 pounds.
His statistics explain why opponents often struggle to build consistent offense. Page does not overwhelm fighters with volume. He creates hesitation. His hands frequently sit low, his stance changes, and his attacks arrive from distances and angles that are difficult to anticipate. He also has the speed to step out before opponents can answer. Page has landed 181 significant strikes in his UFC career at a 58% rate, while 86% of his landed significant strikes have come from standing position.
Ruziboev presents a different type of threat from Page’s recent opponents. He owns a 37-9-2 professional record with 13 knockout victories and 21 submissions, meaning 34 of his 37 wins have come inside the distance. He has also finished 26 opponents in the opening round.
The Uzbek middleweight enters after submitting Andrey Pulyaev in the first round in June. That followed a unanimous decision over Dustin Stoltzfus and a second-round stoppage of Eric McConico. His only UFC defeat came against Joaquin Buckley in May 2024, when Buckley used pressure, movement and takedowns to win a unanimous decision.
Ruziboev’s 80% UFC takedown accuracy jumps off the page, although it comes from a limited number of attempts. He averages 1.36 takedowns per 15 minutes and has a 33% takedown-defense rate. His greater danger is what can happen once a scramble develops. With 21 career submissions, Ruziboev is comfortable attacking the neck or limbs rather than simply holding position.
Still, Page has been remarkably consistent at turning UFC fights into the type of contest he wants. His defensive numbers are better, his reach is longer, and his recent victories have demonstrated that he can solve very different middleweight strikers. Ruziboev is dangerous enough to keep the price from getting too high, but at 62¢, Page still offers a modest edge with my 67% projected win probability.
