Nursulton Ruziboev was able to best Michael Page over three fairly uneventful rounds tonight at UFC Fight Night 287 to win by decision.
Round One
Ruziboev immediately in on a takedown and lands it in the center of the Octagon.
Page attempting a buggy choke from here, but nothing doing. Ruziboev settles into Page’s closed guard.
Not too much happening as Page tries to stifle Ruziboev’s offense. Ruziboev does work an occasional elbow though.
Page gets his back to the cage now. Ruziboev trying to prevent him standing, but ‘Venom’ is able to do so. Ruziboev remains clinched up though against the cage.
Page able to get free with around 30 second remaining. He throws a glancing right hand.
Ruziboev tries to land a punch, but Page swats that away with a counter.
Round Two
They clinch up early in the second round but are soon back to striking range.
Page with a nasty oblique kick that buckled Ruziboev’s leg, but he seems ok.
Leg kick from Ruziboev. A couple of lunging punches from Ruziboev miss wildly.
Page clinches up against the cage again. Ruziboev gets free. Now they clinch in the center of the Octagon for a moment. As they separate Ruziboev looks for a big punch that misses the mark.
Oblique kick from Venom, but Ruziboev catches it and then takes him down with it. Fast scramble from Page to get back up immediately.
Venom aborts on a jumping knee attempt. He ducks under a big hook from Ruziboev.
Big uppercut from Ruziboev lands late in the round.
Round Three
Wild overhand from Ruziboev whistles over Page. Page with a solid punch. Venom with a lunging body punch, but Ruziboev goes in for a takedown and lands it close to the cage.
Page able to stand back up, but isn’t free from Ruziboev’s clinch yet. MVP is able to reverse the position though.
Ruziboev does the same in return, but then lands a knee to the groin that forces a brief timeout.
They reset back in the center of the Octagon. Lots of feints from Page. He needs to get some offense going. He tries for a flurry but doesn’t connect.
Time continuing to tick away. Page misses on a fast right. Right hand from Ruziboev lands to the chest.
Final minute. It’s a staring contest right now. Right hand from Venom. Painful lack of urgency here.
Wheel kick from Page misses. Ruziboev crashes the distance and they clinch in the final 10 seconds.
Decision
Not the most eventful fight then, but Ruziboev got the better of it to win by unanimous decision (29-28 x3).
