Wellington Turman’s planned welterweight matchup with Islam Dulatov was scrapped on the day of UFC Abu Dhabi, ending the bout before the fighters could make the walk. The cancellation came after Dulatov was hospitalized the night before the event, leaving Turman without a chance to compete as scheduled.
According to the reported details, Turman described the situation as heartbreaking and said he believes his opponent’s lack of professionalism played a role in the collapse of the fight. While he did not get the opportunity to perform, he made clear that the late change was especially difficult because it happened after the full preparation for fight week.
Turman was still paid his show money following the cancellation, an important detail after a lost fight on event day. Even so, receiving that payment did not erase the disappointment of missing out on an actual appearance inside the cage after training for the bout.
The UFC Abu Dhabi cancellation now leaves Turman dealing with the fallout from a fight that never happened, while questions remain around Dulatov’s condition and the circumstances that led to the last-minute withdrawal. For Turman, the main takeaway appears to be frustration over how the situation unfolded and the sense that the matchup could have ended differently.
