The Ultimate Fighting Championship is quietly putting together a formidable card for its upcoming trip to the Middle East, and the welterweight division is set to play a pivotal role. According to reports from combat sports journalist Marcel Dorff, rising German prospect Islam Dulatov has his second official octagon appearance booked, where he will square off against hard-hitting Georgian finisher Levan Chokheli.
The matchup is slated for the upcoming UFC Fight Night event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scheduled for December 5. For Dulatov, this booking represents a welcome return to active competition following a frustrating setback earlier this year, while Chokheli looks to build upon the explosive momentum he generated during his own promotional introduction.
Levan Chokheli Reportedly Faces Islam Dulatov at UFC Saudi Arabia After 23-Second Debut Win
The path to this December showdown has been filled with distinct trajectories for both athletes, marked by impressive regional success, stellar debuts on the biggest stages in mixed martial arts, and the inevitable hurdles that come with competing at the highest level of the sport.
Islam Dulatov enters this critical welterweight encounter boasting an impressive professional mixed martial arts record of 12 victories against just a single defeat. Standing tall with a towering frame for the 170-pound division, the German fighter earned his coveted spot on the UFC roster through a stellar performance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024. After demonstrating his vast potential in the developmental league, Dulatov made his long-awaited promotional debut in July 2025, where he made an immediate statement inside the octagon. Facing seasoned veteran Adam Fugitt, Dulatov displayed his concussive power by dropping the American with a sharp left hook before seamlessly transitioning to follow-up punches that forced the referee to halt the contest at the 4:06 mark of the very first round.
Following that statement-making debut, Dulatov was quickly re-booked to face Wellington Turman in July of the following year. However, fight fans were denied the opportunity to see the German standout make a quick turnaround after Dulatov fell ill during the fight week, forcing the promotion to scrap the bout entirely. Now fully recovered and eager to regain his active momentum, Dulatov finds himself presented with a stylistic puzzle in Chokheli that could significantly elevate his standing within the division if he emerges victorious.
On the other side of the cage, Levan Chokheli carries a formidable professional record of 15 wins, 3 losses, and 1 no-contest into the Riyadh arena. Much like his upcoming opponent, the Georgian welterweight enters this high-stakes matchup riding the wave of a devastating first-round stoppage in his own promotional debut. Chokheli didn’t just win his first UFC outing; he completely dominated the landscape by needing a mere 23 seconds to dispatch Leon Shahbazyan in June. The lightning-fast finish cemented Chokheli’s reputation as an ultra-dangerous starter who poses an immediate threat from the opening bell, setting the stage for what many analysts anticipate will be an explosive, high-intensity striking affair against Dulatov.
While the promotion has yet to officially announce a headline bout for the upcoming UFC Fight Night event in Riyadh, rumors and reports have already begun circulating regarding the potential main attraction. According to widespread media reports, a blockbuster matchup pitting former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya against the charismatic and undefeated fan favorite Sharabutdin Magomedov is currently being targeted as the centerpiece for the December 5 card. Should that marquee pairing materialize alongside the newly reported welterweight clash between Dulatov and Chokheli, fight fans in Saudi Arabia and around the globe can expect an unforgettable night of elite mixed martial arts competition.
