Islam Dulatov (1-0 in the UFC) will face Wellington Turman (3-6 in the UFC) at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25.
Islam Dulatov and Wellington Turman are set to collide at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25, with the middleweight matchup pitting an unbeaten newcomer against a UFC veteran looking to turn his fortunes around.
Dulatov, known as "The Ripper," carries a 12-1-0 professional record into the fight and is 1-0 inside the Octagon. The 27-year-old German fighter, who trains out of Triple One Gym, stands six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach and presents a genuinely dangerous offensive profile. His significant strike output of 8.78 per minute is exceptional, and he converts at a 54 percent accuracy rate. He also adds 2.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a threat across multiple areas.
Turman, nicknamed "The Prodigy," is the more experienced UFC hand, having gone 3-6 inside the promotion against a professional record of 18-8-0. The 29-year-old Brazilian, affiliated with Teixeira MMA and Fitness, stands six feet tall with a 72-inch reach. He lands 3.23 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy and supplements his striking with 1.55 takedowns per 15 minutes, also generating submission threats at a rate of 0.8 attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Dulatov's high striking output will be tested for the first time against a seasoned UFC opponent with genuine UFC wins on his record.
- Turman has the grappling and submission tools to complicate matters for a fighter who has yet to attempt a submission in UFC competition.
- A win for Dulatov would build momentum for a fighter who could push toward the ranked portion of the middleweight division, while Turman badly needs a victory to strengthen his case for remaining on the roster.
