Andrey Pulyaev Record: 10-5-0

Inside the Octagon

Pulyaev's UFC arc has been a test of resilience against rising competition. He debuted in March 2025 against Christian Leroy Duncan and dropped a three-round unanimous decision, running into a polished striker on his first night in the Octagon. He bounced back in August 2025 with the kind of performance that hints at his ceiling, stopping Nick Klein by second-round TKO with a body kick and follow-up punches to bank his first UFC win. The momentum stalled in January 2026 at UFC 324, where he lost a unanimous decision to the unbeaten prospect Ateba Gautier. Pulyaev is next scheduled to face the experienced Nursulton Ruziboev in June 2026, a step up that will tell plenty about where he fits in the middleweight picture.

Fighting style

Pulyaev is a finisher first, with an 80% finish rate across his ten wins – six by knockout, two by submission and only two reaching the judges. His size, length and southpaw stance let him control range and unload power from the outside, and his body-kick TKO of Klein showed how he can break opponents downstairs as well as up top. The submission wins by triangle and armbar confirm he is no one-dimensional banger. The caution is on the scorecards: three of his four career losses, including both UFC defeats by decision, have come when he could not impose a finish over fifteen minutes, suggesting his volume and round-management still trail his raw stopping power.

Career highlights

• First UFC victory — stopped Nick Klein by second-round TKO in August 2025, landing a body kick and punches for a signature finish.
• Contender Series breakthrough — beat Liam Anderson by unanimous decision in 2024 to earn his UFC contract after a fast rise through the Russian regional circuit.
• Power and length — carries an 80% finish rate at 6'4" with a 78" reach, blending southpaw knockout power with triangle- and armbar-finishing submissions.