For a UFC fighter on the preliminary card, financial uncertainty often shadows every fight. But middleweight star Ismail Naurdiev no longer faces that stress. In fact, he has established himself as one of the most promising talents under Dana White & Co.’s promotion. At 29, the Chechen-born fighter has steadily risen through the division. Last month at the UFC event in Qatar, Naurdiev delivered a first-round knockout that left his opponent stunned.

Despite delivering the finish, Ismail Naurdiev did not receive a bonus. However, money is no longer a concern for Naurdiev. After becoming a Moroccan citizen, he and his brother, Islam Naurdiev, have seen their lives transformed. In fact, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI personally oversees their financial well-being, along with that of other athlete

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