Preview: UFC Seattle Prelims

Middleweights

Nursulton Ruziboev (34-9-2, 2-1 UFC) vs. Eric McConico (9-2-1, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Ruziboev (-290), McConico (+235)

One of a few late additions to this card, this matchup could provide some entertaining action. Ruziboev returns to middleweight for this late-notice affair, and no matter the division, he’s certainly a fascinating fighter. The fighting pride of Uzbekistan, Ruziboev ran over a particularly high volume of particularly weak competition to make his way to the UFC, but his awkward game has translated surprisingly well. Ruziboev is massive as both a middleweight and welterweight, which he uses to either overwhelm his opponents on the feet or convince them to chase him to the mat; and while Ruziboev’s most successful weapons are mostly limited to a few tricks, he has proven highly adept at using them when the time is right, quickly ending his first two UFC bouts before losing a decision to current surging contender Joaquin Buckley. Nearly a year later, Ruziboev returns for an attempted rebound against McConico, who’s a decent enough find for the UFC on about a week’s notice. McConico isn’t a particularly electric or high-upside prospect, fighting behind a patient and well-rounded game, but he has proven effective in recent years and is currently riding a five-fight winning streak. Things wouldn’t work nearly as well if McConico didn’t seem to hit hard with impressive accuracy. There are a few fights where things are cruising along relatively evenly until McConico breaks it open with a few well-placed combinations. Ruziboev’s game is full of holes, so McConico could easily wait things out and break him apart for a workmanlike win. However, the call is that Ruziboev’s size and awkwardness are enough to catch McConico before he settles into a groove. The pick is Ruziboev via first-round knockout.

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