UFC Announces 8 UFC Paris Fights, Including Page-Ruziboev at 170 Pounds

Q: Is the Paris showdown a title path for Ruziboev or the last gamble for veteran striker Michael Page?

It is more clearly a title-eliminator type opportunity for Nursulton Ruziboev than a true last stand for Michael Page, though it is a major risk for the veteran. Ruziboev enters Paris with the stronger middleweight case. He is 5-1 in the UFC, ranked No. 15 at 185 pounds, and has built momentum with three straight wins, including a first-round submission of Andrey Pulyaev in June. His profile is also built on finishes: 13 knockouts, 21 submissions, and only three career wins by decision. If he beats a recognizable name like Page, especially in a featured European card, he would strengthen his claim for a jump into the middleweight top tier. For Page, this is not accurately a “last gamble” in the sense of career survival. He is 39, but he is also 4-1 in the UFC and on a three-fight winning streak, with notable wins over Shara Magomedov and Jared Cannonier. That said, the fight is a pivotal gamble for his middleweight ambitions. He has voiced frustration about not getting bigger names, and moving back to 185 against a dangerous finisher gives him a chance to force himself into the contender conversation. A loss, however, would likely stall any realistic title push given his age and the division’s depth. So the stakes are asymmetric: for Ruziboev, Paris is a clear path toward contention; for Page, it is less a last chance than a high-risk attempt to prove he still belongs near the top.

Q: Can 39-year-old Michael Page's striking overcome a younger, ranked finisher in his risky return to middleweight?

Yes, but only if Michael Page keeps the fight at long range and avoids extended grappling exchanges. Page’s path is clear. Even at 39, he remains one of MMA’s most unusual and accurate strikers, and he enters on a three-fight streak that includes wins over Shara Magomedov and Jared Cannonier. His movement, timing and ability to control distance can trouble bigger opponents, especially if he turns the fight into a low-volume, tactical striking match. He has also shown he can still win rounds without needing a finish. The risk is that Ruziboev is a far more dangerous middleweight matchup than a pure striking test. At 32, with a 37-9-2 record and a 5-1 UFC mark, he is in his physical prime and has been consistently active at 185 pounds. He is also a proven finisher: 13 knockouts, 21 submissions, and only three career wins by decision. His 6-foot-5 frame, powerful right hand, kicking game and opportunistic grappling give him multiple ways to punish mistakes. That makes this a narrow-margin fight for Page. Moving back to middleweight means dealing with a naturally larger opponent who is comfortable there, while Page’s most recent outing was back at welterweight and ended in a decision rather than a statement finish. If Page can dictate tempo, stay off the fence and deny takedowns or scrambles, his striking is good enough to win. But over 15 minutes, the younger and more versatile finisher may have the safer overall profile.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 15

Eight bouts were added to UFC Paris on Sept. 5, with No. 12 welterweight Michael Page set to face Nursulton Ruziboev in one of the card’s headline matchups.
The pairing shifts from an earlier middleweight report to 170 pounds, matching two fighters who have both competed at 185 while extending Page’s run of facing another unranked opponent.
Page enters on a three-fight streak since his June 2024 loss to Ian Machado Garry, while Ruziboev also carries a three-fight streak and improved to 5-1 in UFC after a first-round neck crank at UFC Baku.
French fighters Oumar Sy, Michael Aljarouj and Nora Cornolle were also announced, alongside bouts featuring Modestas Bukauskas, Ryan Spann, Muhammad Naimov and Trevor Peek.
UFC Fight Night 287 will be held at Accor Arena in Paris, and the promotion still has not announced a main event for its return to France.