Ruziboev Takes Down MVP Early in Rocky UFC Paris Round 1
Nursulton Ruziboev dominated round one of the Michael Venom Page fight at UFC Paris with early takedowns and control.
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Nursulton Ruziboev opened the UFC Paris main event by taking Michael "Venom" Page down almost immediately and controlling him for most of round one, a sharp reversal of the striking clinic most expected from the promotion's biggest offseason free-agency storyline.
Page entered the featured middleweight bout at Accor Arena as a -190 favorite, with Ruziboev sitting at +160 on the betting boards. That number reflected Page's reputation as one of the most gifted pure strikers to come over from Bellator MMA, not any read on how round one actually played out. Ruziboev shot a double leg within the opening minute and got the fight to the mat, brushing off an early scramble attempt from Page and settling into top position, where he mixed in elbows and controlled the pace for the rest of the round.
Page did eventually work back to his feet late in the round, using an underhook and a footsweep to create space, and he landed a hard right hand once the fight reset at range. But the round overall went to Ruziboev, whose grappling instincts overrode any plan Page had to keep the fight standing and moving.
What This Round Means for Page's UFC Future
Michael Page is fighting out the final bout on his UFC contract at UFC Paris, and a rough opening round raises the stakes on a night he needed to make a statement. Page has not lost inside the octagon since dropping a decision to Ian Machado Garry, but his run since then has been defined more by inactivity and a lack of a clear weight-class home than by highlight finishes, and that frustration has followed him toward possible free agency. A striker of his caliber getting taken down and controlled for a full round is exactly the kind of showing that fuels questions about whether he's found a true home in the UFC's deeper talent pool.
Ruziboev's Grappling Pressure Changes the Betting Math
Nursulton Ruziboev came into UFC Paris on a three-fight winning streak, with a submission finish of Andrey Pulyaev putting him on the edge of the middleweight rankings, and his opening round validated the read that his wrestling could be the true separator in this matchup. Books had Page favored on the strength of his striking résumé, but Ruziboev's ability to get the takedown almost on command and control top position shifts live-round betting markets and complicates any read on Page as a heavy favorite in future outings if this pattern holds. For bettors, a fighter who can neutralize elite striking with wrestling volume is always live in-fight, no matter what the pre-fight number said.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened between Michael Page and Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris?
Nursulton Ruziboev took Michael 'Venom' Page down early in the first round of their UFC Paris middleweight main event and controlled him on the mat for most of the round.
Was Michael Page favored to beat Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris?
Yes, Michael Page opened as a -190 betting favorite over Nursulton Ruziboev, who was priced at +160, ahead of their UFC Paris main event.
Is this Michael Page's last fight on his UFC contract?
Yes, Michael Page is fighting out the final bout of his current UFC contract against Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris.
