Turman Slams Dulatov's 'Lack of Professionalism' After UFC Abu Dhabi Scratch

Wellington Turman spent an entire camp getting ready for his first walk to the Octagon in two and a half years — a return built on the back of four shoulder surgeries. He never got to make it. His welterweight bout with Islam Dulatov was scrapped on the morning of UFC Abu Dhabi after Dulatov was hospitalized the night before, and Turman found out from his manager while he sat in his hotel room, already gearing up to head to the arena.

Turman called the cancellation heartbreaking, and he doesn't think it needed to happen. Dulatov, a 12-1 prospect who has finished eight of his wins by knockout, apparently got sick following the weigh-in — and Turman lays a chunk of the blame on how his opponent handled the hours after the scale.

The Shake That Sank the Bout

According to Turman, he sat down with members of Dulatov's team later that day and got the backstory. He said the camp told him Dulatov was working with a bodybuilding coach — someone with no MMA background — who gave him shakes that made him ill. Turman's point was simple: the UFC hands fighters a full support system through the Performance Institute, and ignoring those specialists in favor of an outsider is a mistake.

He was blunt about it, calling the whole thing a lack of professionalism. Turman said he understands there's nothing you can do once someone genuinely gets sick, and he wished Dulatov a fast recovery. But he also stressed that he resists his own post-weigh-in temptations — even skipping something as small as chocolate — precisely so he shows up right on fight night.

The financial hit was softened. Turman confirmed he was paid his show money, though that was never the point. He wanted the win, maybe a bonus, and above all a chance to prove how much he's improved during his long layoff. That's the part no cheque covers.

As for a rematch of a fight that never was, Turman said he's open to running it back — potentially at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi. He'd approach it with a bit of caution, though. He wants Dulatov to actually learn from this and start trusting the UFC PI staff, because Turman's only real goal is straightforward: get to fight night, and finally get to work.