Islam Dulatov has moved away from any discuss of a future battle with UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, citing his respect for Makhachev’s circle and the attainable political consideration round a matchup between two fighters named Islam from Chechnya and Dagestan. Dulatov as an alternative returns to motion this weekend in opposition to Wellington Turman at UFC Abu Dhabi.
Why Islam Dulatov Says a Combat With Islam Makhachev Might Turn out to be Political
Talking to DAZN forward of his battle this weekend, Dulatov made clear that he doesn’t view Makhachev as an opponent he needs to pursue. “No method. We don’t know one another, however I’ve met Khabib one time, and these persons are like massive brothers to me,” Dulatov mentioned. “Islam vs. Islam is just not very good. He’s from Dagestan, I’m from Chechnya. It could additionally turn into a political subject if two guys named Islam fought one another.”
Makhachev has lengthy been related to former UFC light-weight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and his Dagestani crew. Dulatov’s feedback level to that connection reasonably than any aggressive disagreement with the person at the moment holding the 170-pound belt.
Dulatov additionally burdened {that a} battle is much from life like in sporting phrases. “However in any case, he’s the champion, and I’m simply at the start of my profession. So it doesn’t even make sense to speak about it. However no, it’s not a battle I might ever be desirous about.”
The 27-year-old welterweight meets Brazil’s Wellington Turman on Saturday, July 25, at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi. The bout is a part of UFC Combat Evening: Ankalaev vs. Guskov and is scheduled at welterweight. Dulatov enters with a 12-1 skilled document and a 1-0 UFC mark. His sole Octagon look ended with a first-round TKO of Adam Fugitt, a end result that earned him a Efficiency of the Evening bonus.
Turman, a former UFC middleweight, brings a 18-8 skilled document and has competed 9 instances for the promotion. The matchup provides Dulatov an opportunity to construct on his debut win, however it’s nonetheless solely his second UFC outing.
Dulatov has spoken confidently about his place among the many division’s main names, but his feedback on Makhachev present he’s preserving the title image in perspective. A win over Turman would lengthen his UFC run, whereas any dialogue of championship opponents stays nicely down the street.
Islam Makhachev
Makhachev grew to become UFC welterweight champion by defeating Jack Della Maddalena after shifting up from light-weight. He beforehand held the UFC light-weight title and recorded key championship wins over Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier throughout that run.
The 34-year-old is about for his first welterweight title defence in opposition to Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on August 15. Makhachev enters that bout with a 28-1 MMA document, whereas Garry is listed at 17-1.
For now, Dulatov’s rapid activity is Turman in Abu Dhabi. Makhachev’s focus is a title defence, and Dulatov has made his place clear as a gathering between the 2 Islams is one dialog he would reasonably go away alone.
