# Islam Dulatov

Islam Dulatov (born August 2, 1998) is a German mixed martial artist and professional fashion model. He is currently competing in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

## Background

Dulatov was born in the small town of Urus-Martan, Chechnya, Russia. He grew up in a large family with six brothers, being the middle child. During the turbulent years of the Second Chechen War, Dulatov's family frequently moved across the region, including to Shali and Grozny, in search of safety. Due to the ongoing insurgency, the Dulatov brothers had little opportunity to attend school. Instead, they spent much of their time outdoors, engaging in bodyweight workouts and helping their parents by unloading trucks to support the family financially.
In December 2007, the family relocated to Germany as war refugees. Initially, Dulatov and his brothers struggled to adapt to their new environment, particularly in school, where the language barrier posed a significant challenge. However, participating in sports and training in mixed martial arts played a crucial role in helping them adjust. It not only aided their socialization but also gave them the confidence to stand up for themselves during confrontations and fights.

## Career
### Professional fashion model

Dulatov's eldest brother, Djibril, who had established a successful career as a model for prestigious fashion brands such as Lavin, Gucci and Alexander McQueen, played a pivotal role in shaping the paths of his younger brothers. When his brothers Islam, Sulumbek, and Tamerlan turned 18, Djibril introduced them to the world of modeling, effectively influencing their decision to pursue careers in fashion. Despite their modeling careers, the brothers chose to maintain their dedication to mixed martial arts (MMA) , continuing their rigorous training and competing in the sport. This decision led them to forgo higher education, focusing instead in both modeling and MMA.
Dulatov walked for fashion designers such as Gucci, Lavin and Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss and appeared in the British Vogue as one of the top 10 male models in 2018. He signed an exclusive contract with Versace, walking in fashion Week six times under their banner. Additionally, Dulatov has posed for notable magazines such as GQ and many others.
   I canceled a lot of shootings when I was younger. We had some problems with money and everything. This time, modeling was really helping me with my situation. I remember when I canceled a shooting for $5,000. At this time, that was a lot of money for me. The fight, which was the same day, was for like 200 euros or something like that. … At the end of the moment, the fight was canceled too because my opponent had an injury. I had these situations like 10 times, with even more money and everything. But to be honest, I love to be a fighter and that’s what I do.

### Mixed martial arts
#### Early career

After compiling an amateur record of 4–1, Dulatov started his professional MMA career in 2019. He amassed a professional record of 10–1 prior participating in Dana White's Contender Series.

#### Dana White's Contender Series

Dulatov appeared on the eighth season of Dana White's Contender Series on October 8, 2024, against Vanilto Antunes who was the former champion of Legacy Fighting Alliance at Dana White's Contender Series 75. He won the fight in round one via knockout. With the win, Dulatov was offered a UFC contract.

#### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Dulatov was scheduled to face Adam Fugitt on February 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 252. However, he was forced to withdraw due to a serious injury and was replaced by Billy Goff. In turn, the bout was scrapped during fight week as Fugitt pulled out due to injury.

## Personal life

Dulatov and his three brothers invested in a hairdressing salon, owned a bar named "J'adore Lounge" in Düsseldorf and planning to open a gym, restaurant and launching a clothing brand in the near future.

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 12 matches | 11 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 7 | 0 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 11–1 | Vanilton Antunes | KO (elbow) | Dana White's Contender Series 71 | October 8, 2024 | 1 | 2:44 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Ioannis Palaiologos | TKO (knee to the body) | Oktagon 53 | February 7, 2024 | 1 | 4:59 | Oberhausen, Germany | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 9–1 | Will Chope | TKO (punches) | Sparta CF 3 | October 7, 2023 | 1 | 2:00 | Vienna, Austria | |
| Win | 8–1 | Patrick Spirk | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Sparta CF 2 | March 11, 2023 | 1 | 0:48 | Schwechat, Austria | |
| Win | 7–1 | Kleverson Cruz da Silva | TKO (punches) | Brave CF 61 | August 6, 2022 | 1 | 2:48 | Bonn, Germany | |
| Win | 6–1 | Michael Rirsch | Submission (brabo choke) | National FC 8 | April 2, 2022 | 1 | 0:46 | Düsseldorf, Germany | |
| Win | 5–1 | Giorgi Kankava | KO (punches) | GMC Fight Night 7 | June 19, 2021 | 2 | N/A | Gelsenkirchen, Germany | |
| Win | 4–1 | Ibrahim Celik | TKO (punches) | German MMA Championship 25 | May 22, 2021 | 1 | N/A | Gelsenkirchen, Germany | |
| Win | 3–1 | Laith Najjar | TKO (punches) | GMC Fight Night 6 | March 20, 2021 | 1 | 0:44 | Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Welterweight debut. |
| Win | 2–1 | Vladan Maksic | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Elite MMA Championship 4 | February 26, 2020 | 1 | 0:53 | Düsseldorf, Germany | Catchweight (165 lb) bout. |
| Win | 1–1 | Kolja Predojevic | Submission (rear-naked choke) | National FC 1 | October 26, 2019 | 1 | 0:34 | Krefeld, Germany | Lightweight debut. |
| Loss | 0–1 | Gjoni Palokaj | Decision (unanimous) | German MMA Championship 21 | September 7, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Cologne, Germany | Featherweight debut. |