{"id":371734,"date":"2026-07-25T14:54:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T09:24:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=371734"},"modified":"2026-07-25T14:54:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T09:24:53","slug":"12-1-ufc-abu-dhabi-star-would-refuse-to-fight-islam-makhachev-because-of-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/25\/12-1-ufc-abu-dhabi-star-would-refuse-to-fight-islam-makhachev-because-of-politics\/","title":{"rendered":"12-1 UFC Abu Dhabi star would refuse to fight Islam Makhachev because of ‘politics’"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
Follow us on Google Discover<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

One rising UFC welterweight prospect is already ruling out fighting his division\u2019s champion.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Islam Dulatov has cemented himself as some of the promising up-and-comers in MMA, having delivered two brutal knockouts in front of UFC audiences.<\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n

The Versace-model-turned UFC fighter earned his contract with an elbow KO on Dana White\u2019s Contender Series<\/em> in 2024. Last yr, on the undercard of Dustin Poirier\u2019s retirement fight in Louisiana, \u2018The Ripper\u2019 finished Adam Fugitt to finish his debut in a single round.<\/p>\n

Many are predicting a quick surge up the ladder at 170 kilos for the 27-year-old. But Dulatov will probably be hoping that his planned rise into title contention takes long enough for Islam Makhachev to have vacated the throne.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Will Magomed Ankalaev ever hold UFC gold again? \ud83d\udc51<\/h3>\n

The UFC Abu Dhabi headliner was light heavyweight champion for just 7 months \ud83d\ude33<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"Magomed<\/div>
Credit: Ian Maule\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

UFC Abu Dhabi\u2019s Islam Dulatov would reject Chechnya vs Dagestan fight against Islam Makhachev<\/h2>\n

Over a yr after his last appearance, Dulatov will look to deliver a reminder of his potential at Saturday\u2019s UFC Abu Dhabi event, where \u2018The Ripper\u2019 will probably be fighting Wellington Turman.<\/p>\n

After flying the German flag upon his UFC signing, Dulatov will probably be representing Turkey starting this weekend.<\/p>\n

He was born in Chechnya, a federal republic of Russia that neighbors one other in Dagestan. That region is where the present UFC welterweight champ hails from, which is enough for Dulatov to rule out ever sharing the cage with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo way. No,\u201d Dulatov said at UFC Abu Dhabi media day when asked if he would fight Makhachev.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know one another, but I met Khabib (Nurmagomedov) one time. These individuals are for me like, big brothers. Islam vs Islam, I believe it\u2019s not so nice.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s from Dagestan, I\u2019m from Chechnya,\u201d Dulatov continued. \u201cThere would even be quite a lot of political stuff if two guys named Islam would fight against one another.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut anyway, he’s champion and I’m just in the beginning of my profession. It doesn\u2019t make sense to even speak about this. But no, it isn’t a fight I might ever be enthusiastic about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"Islam<\/div>
Photo by Cooper Neill\/Zuffa LLC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Dulatov prepares for his return on July 25, the welterweight king isn’t far-off from his own next fight.<\/p>\n

For his first title defense at 170 kilos, Makhachev will face Ian Machado Garry within the important event of UFC 330 on August 15.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n
Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our greatest Bloody Elbow content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Follow us on Google Discover One rising UFC welterweight prospect is already ruling out fighting his division\u2019s champion. Islam Dulatov has cemented himself as some of the promising up-and-comers in MMA, having delivered two brutal knockouts in front of UFC audiences. The Versace-model-turned UFC fighter earned his contract with an elbow KO on Dana White\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":371735,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21048],"tags":[13095,13096,561,1253,1794,13132,10360,15724,795,3928],"class_list":["post-371734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mma","tag-abu","tag-dhabi","tag-due","tag-fight","tag-islam","tag-makhachev","tag-politics","tag-refuse","tag-star","tag-ufc"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t