Wellington Turman breaks silence on grueling recovery. For Wellington Turman, returning to the Octagon at UFC Abu Dhabi is far more than ending a lengthy layoff; it’s about overcoming one of the toughest periods of his life.
The Brazilian middleweight has been out of action for 19 months after a devastating run of injuries that led to four shoulder surgeries, multiple setbacks, financial struggles, and a temporary move back to Brazil. Now, as he prepares to face the highly touted Islam Dulatov, Turman says he’s simply grateful to be fighting again.
Turman’s nightmare began after his loss to Jared Gooden in December 2023, where he aggravated an existing shoulder injury. While preparing for surgery on one shoulder, an infection developed in the other, forcing doctors to perform additional procedures. The complications didn’t stop there, as lingering bone displacement required even more surgery.
“I spent a long time undergoing surgeries,” Turman told MMA Fighting. “I had four surgeries in total. Two of them didn’t go well, so I had to have them redone. That’s why I’ve been out for so long. It was a tough time, very difficult to be away from doing what I love and from my job. But we’re finally back, and I’m really happy to be here again.”
The extended recovery also brought financial challenges. Unable to fight or coach regularly, Turman took on side jobs to support himself. After his U.S. visa expired, he returned to his parents’ home in Brazil to reduce expenses before later spending three months coaching fighters in Turkey. Despite entering UFC Abu Dhabi on a three-fight losing streak, Turman believes the adversity has only strengthened his mindset. Rather than being intimidated by Dulatov’s growing reputation and string of first-round finishes, Turman sees the matchup as the perfect opportunity to prove he still belongs in the UFC.
“He’s a very tough opponent, like everyone in the UFC. There are no easy fights here. Everyone is legit,” Turman said. “He’s a guy with a lot of hype around him and is already pretty well known because of his other career [as a model]. I think it’s a great fight for my return and a chance to show that I belong in the UFC and deserve to stay in the UFC.” Turman said “there’s always a little bit of pressure” in fighting off losses, especially three in a row against Gordon, Randy Brown and Andre Petroski, but “that’s what keeps me alive and what makes me happy.”
“I’ve always performed well under pressure, especially when it’s a fight where everyone thinks I’m going in there to lose,” Turman said. “He’s coming in with a lot of hype, all first-round knockout wins and everything. That’s the kind of thing that makes some fighters nervous and affects their performance. For me, it’s the opposite. It motivates me even more and gives me extra energy. It feels like it’s my UFC debut all over again. It feels like I’m starting fresh. I’m just really happy to be back here.”
With his health finally restored and a fresh perspective on his career, Turman heads into Abu Dhabi determined to turn years of frustration into the beginning of a new chapter. Whether he can derail one of the UFC’s fastest-rising prospects remains to be seen, but after everything he has endured, simply making the walk back to the Octagon is already a victory of its own.
