UFC Fight Night 252 features an intriguing middleweight showdown as Nursulton Ruziboev takes on Eric McConico. Ruziboev, a towering 6’5” finisher from Uzbekistan, is known for his aggressive grappling and submission game, while McConico, a rising talent out of MMA Lab, brings knockout power and a well-rounded skill set. Both fighters are looking to make a strong statement in the UFC’s middleweight division. Ruziboev, a veteran with over 40 professional fights, aims to rebound from a recent loss to Joaquin Buckley, while McConico looks to continue his momentum following a string of victories on the regional scene. With both men possessing finishing ability and a desire to prove themselves, this bout promises fireworks.

Ruziboev enters the fight with an extensive 34-9-2 record, boasting an impressive 59% submission rate and 35% knockout rate. His ability to hunt for submissions from any position makes him a dangerous threat on the ground, but his striking remains somewhat unpolished. Despite his size advantage, he has shown vulnerabilities against powerful strikers and fighters with strong wrestling backgrounds. McConico, on the other hand, sports a 9-2-1 record, with four wins by knockout and three by submission. The Arizona-based fighter has proven his ability to finish fights in multiple ways, but his two career losses both came via knockout, raising questions about his durability against high-level competition.

In their recent outings, Ruziboev is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 56 in May 2024, where he struggled to deal with Buckley’s speed and striking pressure. However, prior to that, he secured back-to-back first-round finishes, knocking out Brunno Ferreira at UFC on ESPN 48 in July 2023 and stopping Sedriques Dumas via TKO at UFC on ESPN 54 in March 2024. His ability to start fast and overwhelm opponents has been a key factor in his success.

McConico, meanwhile, has been on a solid run, picking up a first-round submission win over Jarome Hatch at Tuff-N-Uff 138 in July 2024. Before that, he earned a unanimous decision victory over Tyler Ray in February 2024 and a head-kick TKO against UFC veteran Maki Pitolo in November 2023. His striking improvements and composure under pressure have been evident, making him a legitimate threat in this matchup.

The key to victory for Ruziboev will be his ability to get the fight to the ground. If he can impose his grappling and use his long frame to secure dominant positions, he has a clear path to victory via submission. McConico, however, will look to keep the fight standing and utilize his superior striking to test Ruziboev’s chin. If he can land clean early and avoid the takedown, he has a real shot at scoring a knockout.

Ultimately, Ruziboev’s experience and grappling advantage give him the edge. While McConico is dangerous on the feet, Ruziboev’s ability to force grappling exchanges should allow him to control the fight and find a submission.

Prediction: Nursulton Ruziboev wins via Submission (Round 1).