Islam Dulatov vs. Levan Chokheli Booked for UFC Saudi Arabia

The UFC's December trip to Saudi Arabia has a new welterweight pairing. Islam Dulatov will face Levan Chokheli at the event in Riyadh on Dec. 5, which is still scheduled to take place at ANB Arena. Multiple sources have confirmed the matchup. Neither fighter is ranked, but both won their UFC debuts by first-round knockout, and both will be competing for the second time in the promotion.

Dulatov returns after a fight-day withdrawal

Dulatov, 28, was born in Russia, grew up in Germany and officially represents Turkey. After competing as an amateur from 2016 to 2019, he turned professional and fought mostly in Germany early in his career. He lost a unanimous decision in his pro debut but has not been beaten since, collecting wins in Brave CF and Sparta Championship Fighting before signing with OKTAGON MMA, where he stopped John Palaiologos with a knee to the body in his only fight for the promotion.

In 2024 he earned a UFC contract on the Contender Series with a first-round elbow knockout of Vanilto Antunes. His UFC debut in July 2025 ended with a first-round knockout of Adam Fugitt and a Performance of the Night bonus. He was supposed to return earlier this year but had to withdraw on fight day due to illness.

Chokheli's route to the UFC

Chokheli, two years older than his opponent, began his professional career in Georgia in 2016 and went 9-0 at home within three years. After two fights in Germany he signed with Bellator in 2021, winning only one of his first three bouts there. Following a 2022 loss to Goiti Yamauchi he strung together three wins, including a finish of former UFC fighter Sabah Homasi, before a first-round knockout loss to Lorenz Larkin in 2024.

He returned to Germany in 2025, knocked out Alexandre Goncalves in the second round and received a UFC call earlier this year. Matched with Leon Shahbazyan on short notice, he knocked him out just 23 seconds into the first round. The bout with Dulatov will be his second UFC fight.