After a three-year wait, Islam Dulatov is finally set to make his UFC debut. The former model turned mixed martial artist will face Adam Fugitt on the early prelims of UFC 318 on July 19, marking his long-awaited first appearance in the octagon.
Dulatov, 26, signed with the UFC in February 2022, but a serious injury delayed his debut. Now recovered, he brings an 11-1-0 professional MMA record into his first UFC bout, with seven wins by knockout and four by submission.
Born on August 2, 1998, in Chechnya, Russia, Dulatov and his family were displaced by the Second Chechen War and eventually resettled in Germany as refugees. It was there that he began training in MMA, using the sport to integrate into his new environment.
Before entering the world of combat sports, Dulatov was a successful fashion model. He walked for brands including Gucci and Hugo Boss, and was named one of British Vogue’s Top 10 Male Models of 2018. He later signed an exclusive deal with Versace before ultimately deciding to pursue his dream of becoming a professional fighter.
Standing 6-foot-3 with a 75-inch reach, Dulatov competes in the welterweight division (170 lbs). In addition to his fighting credentials, he has built a large following on social media, with more than 415,000 Instagram followers on @islam-dulatov1. He does not currently have an active presence on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Dulatov is married, though he keeps his personal life private. While his Instagram bio confirms his marital status, he does not share photos of his wife publicly.
His bout with Fugitt at UFC 318 will serve as a test of his resilience, as he transitions from modeling runways to the UFC’s famed Octagon.
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