“I came here with nothing, so I have nothing to lose. I just go forward and do my stuff,” said model-turned-fighter Islam Dulatov ahead of his UFC 318 debut against Adam Fugitt. Boasting a 12-1 record, the German sensation made a thunderous entry into the UFC, drawing comparisons to stars like Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria. Why? Well, he’s not just talented, he’s rich. Back in Germany, his family now owns multiple thriving businesses and ranks among the wealthiest in their area. But was it always this way? Not even close.

Recently, Dulatov has been criticized by many in the MMA world for being rich. Several individuals have claimed that he hasn’t faced the same struggles as other fighters who rose from nothing. However, Dulatov would beg to differ. In his conversation with Home of Fight, the model-turned-fighter lashed out at those who believe he was wealthy from the very beginning.

Talking about his family’s fortune, Dulatov stated that he and his family came to Germany as refugees to escape the harsh realities of the Chechen war, “A lot of people talk like I come from a rich, established family. No, my family was not rich, and I wasn’t born rich. I come from Chechnya — you know, everybody knows this.”

He further added, “That was not a casual war. We came to Germany as refugees. I don’t know which refugee comes to Germany, who is rich and all. So, I built myself — you know, I’m self-made. My family, my brothers — we are doing our businesses, you know. We built it up and made our parents rich, not the other way around. Our parents didn’t make us rich.”

Being victims of the war, Dulatov and his family were forced to flee their country, Russia. The Second Chechen War made it impossible for them to stay and take care of their homeland. In search of a better life, the entire family migrated to Düsseldorf, Germany, as refugees in 2007. With nothing but a small amount of money, they arrived with hope, but through sheer hard work, they ensured they wouldn’t remain poor for long.

Recalling the ordeals they had to face in Germany, Dulatov’s elder brother, Djibril, himself a model and professional MMA fighter, stated, “It was a difficult decision. No one wants to leave their homeland or family.” After eight years of struggle, they were finally granted German citizenship. They also invested their money in various businesses, which ultimately made them wealthy. Well, with his modelling career going smoothly, Dulatov has a goal in the UFC: to fight for the title, and that too in his prime.

Islam Dulatov aims to take the welterweight gold soon

In his UFC debut, Islam Dulatov knocked out his opponent, Adam Fugitt, to earn a Performance of the Night bonus on the UFC 318 prelims. With a 100% finishing ratio, the German fighter has cemented himself as the next big face in the welterweight division. Talking about his performance at UFC 318, Dulatov stated, “I think it’s not comparable to reality, because it’s better than I ever had in my mind. Unbelievable feeling, really. I trained so hard for this, over 10 years of my life.”

When asked about his aspirations for his UFC career, Dulatov stated that he wants to take his career at his own pace, but he will fight for the title sooner than expected. “I’m going to be honest with you guys, I want to take my time for this. I grow up, I make big steps in each fight. Actually, it will take as long as it takes. I waited so long for this opportunity to fight in the UFC. Two years or something like that. It will not change anything. I want to fight for the title when I’m in my prime. We will get there soon.”

His victory at UFC 318 ensured that he made a name for himself in the welterweight division. However, with his modeling career on the sidelines, can he afford to take shots to the face? The question remains unanswered.