UFC Abu Dhabi event loses fight to illness hours before start

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UFC Abu Dhabi has taken a late just before the event was set to kick off. Saturday’s Fight Night card will go down with only 12 bouts after the cancellation of a main card bout between Islam Dulatov and Wellington Turman, the promotion announced just hours before the start of the event. According to the promotion, Dulatov was forced off the welterweight bout due to illness. On a statement posted on Dulatov’s social media Saturday morning, his team revealed the fighter had to be hospitalized on Friday. “Last night, Islam was admitted to the hospital due to an infection and spent several hours receiving medical treatment,” the statement read. “Despite every effort to keep the fight on, the decision was made together with the UFC to withdraw him from the bout in the interest of his health and well-being. Right now, the only priority is for Islam to make a full recovery. He will personally address everyone with a statement as soon as he is able.” Dulatov’s team added that “Islam will use this time to recover completely and will come back stronger than ever.” Turman, who was set to make his return to the cage after two and a half years away, sidelined that long due to four shoulder surgeries, said on his social media he wishes Dulatov a quick recovery and hopes for a fast turnaround, re-booking the Dulatov bout or facing a new opponent instead. The UFC has yet to announce if a fight will be moved to the main card. Check the updated UFC Abu Dhabi lineup below. Main Card (Paramount+ at 12 p.m. ET) Magomed Ankalaev vs. Bogdan Guskov Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov Magomed Zaynukov vs. Damian Rzepecki Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune Abubakar Vagaev vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev Preliminary Card (Paramount+ at 9 a.m. ET) Valter Walker vs. Thomas Petersen Dustin Jacoby vs. Muhammad Saidov Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Sam Patterson Ismael Bonfim vs. Axel Sola Magomed Tuchalov vs. Brendson Ribeiro Mike Davis vs. Nurullo Aliev Cody Gibson vs. Abdul Hussein

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Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman is off the UFC Abu Dhabi lineup just before start time.