Before Dana White’s Contender Series 75, one prominent name emerged, the last man to defeat UFC light heavyweight king Alex Pereira in the kickboxing realm, Artem Vakhitov. However, as the series reached its conclusion in Week 9, the spotlight shifted to 26-year-old welterweight contender Islam Dulatov. ‘The Ripper’ earned a UFC contract after sending his opponent, Vanilto Antunes, crashing to the canvas with a step-in elbow, a moment that left UFC head honcho Dana White stunned and out of his seat. White couldn’t stop himself from labeling Dulatov a “savage.”
Standing at 6’3″, this welterweight is making waves not only in the world of mixed martial arts but also in the modeling industry. This former fashion model is no stranger to being in the spotlight, even if he has to sprinkle a dash of violence to get it. While there’s plenty of information about ‘The Ripper’s’ fighting career, fans are eager to learn more about this rising sensation’s life outside the UFC. So, without wasting time, let’s delve into the lesser-known aspects of Islam Dulatov’s life.
Where is Islam Dulatov from? Ethnicity and nationality
Islam Dulatov is not your average UFC rookie. At just 21, he’s already a European MMA champion, a professional model with IMG, and the newest addition to the UFC welterweight division. But behind the spotlight lies a powerful story of survival, family, and faith.
Many fans are confused about Islam Dulatov’s ethnicity and nationality, given his German citizenship, but his roots trace back to the small town of Urus-Martan in Chechnya. As victims of war and social displacement, his family was forced to flee from city to city. However, the chaos of the Second Chechen War made it impossible for them to stay in the country. In search of a better future, Dulatov’s parents, along with his three brothers, relocated to Düsseldorf, Germany, as refugees in 2007. Why Germany? It’s one of the six countries where Chechens have dispersed.
Initially, the language barrier kept ‘The Ripper’ and his brothers out of school for a while. Recalling those tough times, Dulatov’s elder brother, Djibril, himself a model and professional MMA fighter, shared in a candid interview, “It was a difficult decision. No one wants to leave their homeland or family.” The transition was challenging as they adjusted to life in a new country, unfamiliar with the language and culture. The drastic shift caught the Dulatov family off guard.
However, after eight years of perseverance, the family was finally granted German citizenship. Now, more than a decade later, Dulatov has not only established roots in Germany but has also embraced his passion for mixed martial arts. So, what do we know about his parents?
Islam Dulatov’s parents, background & family
There is no publicly available information about Islam Dulatov’s parents at the time of writing. This may be due to personal preference, as many fighters from his background tend to keep their private lives out of the spotlight. Whether by choice or cultural values, Dulatov appears to maintain a level of privacy when it comes to his family, even as he and his brothers continue to rise in both the modeling and MMA worlds.
MMA record of Islam Dulatov- Who has he lost to?
Islam Dulatov’s early life hardships not only forged the fighter within him but also made him as tough as a nail. This was evident when he put Vanilton Antunes to sleep with an elbow strike in the first round. While that may not seem significant, what’s remarkable is that Chechen prospect has repeated this feat back-to-back in his last 12 fights, finishing 9 of them in the first round by knockout.
Since his transition into professional MMA, which served as a warm-up for him, Islam Dulatov has experienced only one defeat in his professional career. Since then, he has never bowed down to anyone. However, ‘The Ripper’ considers his elder brother to be more lethal than himself. At the DWCS post-fight press conference, he candidly addressed this, stating, “My brothers are much stronger than me, and I’m not joking; I just look good.”
While Islam Dulatov may not possess the same lethal prowess as his brother, that doesn’t diminish his love for the sport, which led him to abandon his promising modeling career with Versace to fit into the Venum fight kit.
The modeling career of Dulatov, featuring Versace, Gucci, and other brands
A lingering question in the minds of fans is how the four Chechen brothers, Sulumbek, Tamerlan, Islam, and Djibril Dulatov, rose from refugee status to carve their names in the modeling world, ultimately leading them to their dream goal in MMA. It all began when the eldest Dulatov brother, Djibril, was approached by a modeling agent at a Gucci store due to his striking appearance. The agent offered him a business card, which his father initially dismissed.
However, encouraged by their mother, Djibril pursued the modeling path rooted in Islamic tradition, which opened doors for his younger brothers. Among them, Islam Dulatov’s name shone the brightest during his short stint in modeling, where he worked with renowned brands like Versace, Gucci, Lanvin, and Tommy Hilfiger. His success in the modeling industry culminated in 2018 when he was named one of the top 10 models by British Vogue.
This recognition highlighted not only his looks but also his commitment to excellence, which positively impacted his MMA fighting career and complemented his modeling pursuits. Islam Dulatov recently shared his thoughts on this during a DWCS post-fight interview, stating, “I have never had to refuse a shoot because of injuries. I only had a black eye once before a shoot for GQ, and the photographer said that it was even better this way, it shows my personality. In the modeling business, everyone knows that I do MMA. Many people didn’t like it before, but then the agents realized that I wasn’t going to quit.” And in his UFC 318 debut, he made sure to announce his arrival in the promotion in style!
Islam Dulatov’s debut at UFC 318
At UFC 318, Islam Dulatov made a statement. And he did it with style and violence. Facing Adam Fugitt in the early prelims, Dulatov entered the Octagon with high expectations. And he lived up to every bit of the hype. Just over four minutes into the first round, he landed a brutal check left hook that dropped Fugitt cold. Two more follow-up shots sealed the deal before the referee jumped in to stop it.
In his post-fight interview, Dulatov shared, “I told you I always go for a KO, 12 fights, 12 finishes. For sure, I look good guys. I can do that [modeling] job.”
He wasn’t lying. The man who can grace a runway also knows how to shut off the lights inside a cage. With lightning-fast hands and measured footwork, Dulatov picked his shots carefully. Fugitt tried to smother him against the cage, but Dulatov’s straight punches consistently found their mark. And when the left hook landed, it was all over. One fan even wrote on X in a clip of the knockout sequence, “Oh look at me, I’m Islam Dulatov, UFC fighter. I just signed with Versace, bought a second Lamborghini, and got another knockout in the UFC”
The rising UFC star reportedly added a second Lamborghini to his collection before his debut and currently drives around in a Lamborghini Urus, the pricing for which starts at around $240,000!
Nevertheless, with the win, Dulatov improves his pro record to 12-1 and now holds a perfect 1-0 UFC slate. Even better? He walked away from the fight injury-free just in time for his modeling photoshoot, reportedly scheduled for Monday. From Dana White’s Contender Series to the UFC main roster, Dulatov’s star is only rising. After all, how many fighters can deliver a highlight reel knockout and then pose for a fashion shoot afterwards?
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