The Dagestani fighters, especially those in Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team, have continued to dominate the Octagon in every division that they step into. Be it Islam Makhachev in the lightweight division, Umar Nurmagomedov in the bantamweight realm, or Tagir Ulanbekov in the flyweight category, the Dagestanis are hard to drop down. But today, let’s keep the spotlight on Ulanbekov.

Not too long ago, many people discussed the #11 flyweight contender being blind in his right eye. But is this actually true? Or is it just another rumor spreading through the tracks of social media? Let’s find out!

Does Tagir Ulanbekov suffer from blindness?

Well, not really. The internet is one of the fastest ways to spread a false report, and the #11 flyweight contender being blind is yet another rumor that spread through the internet. The hoax has indeed died down, and there’s literally no evidence whatsoever to prove that Ulanbekov actually has problems with his vision. So why did the netizens believe him to be blind?

The rumor might have stemmed from the fact that one of Ulanbekov’s eyes is smaller than the other. But that doesn’t mean he’s blind. And if he had some problems with his vision, he would have attracted restrictions from several US states from competing in their territory. Well, that’s what Sharaputdin Magomedov has been facing because of his blindness in one eye. 

Ulanbekov’s good vision can be further proven by his YouTube videos. The UFC flyweight prospect loves to go out in the open and roam around his neighborhood. He works out in the open, which includes running, shadowboxing, and other cardiovascular exercises. Hence, we can stay assured that the 33-year-old Dagestani does not have any issues with his vision. 

Being a part of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team, Ulanbekov has attracted quite some attention towards him. And that has urged the fight fans to wonder about the Dagestani flyweight contender’s early life. 

More about Tagir Ulanbekov’s early life and background

Ulanbekov was born on the 8th of July 1991, into an Avar family in Dylym, a village in Dagestan. Needless to say, The flyweight prospect began his training at a very young age. After all, that’s the beauty of being born in Dagestan. He learned wrestling as his uncle took him to a wrestling section. When he reached the age of 8, he moved to Makhachkala. Yes! That’s Islam Makhachev’s birthplace! 

That was when he joined Team Khabib. With guidance from the legendary Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, he developed his wrestling skills. Training beside Nurmagomedov and Makhachev was simply a bonus. On top of that, he also has ‘The Eagle’ in his corner. Weighing in on that during an interview with Anatomy of a Fighter, prior to his fight at UFC 272, Ulanbekov said, “For me, it’s a huge motivation to have Khabib in my corner. Not too long ago, he was the pound-for-pound number one fighter on the planet. And he is considered the greatest of all time. It’s a huge motivation and honor to have him in my corner. When people like Khabib, Islam, and Javier are in my corner, I have nothing to worry about.”

Now, Ulanbekov is set to land against Clayton Carpenter at UFC 311. Coming into the event with a record of 15-2, we might actually expect the Dagestani to claim a win. But that’s something only time can tell. What are your thoughts about Ulanbekov’s fighting skills? Did you also think that he had problems with his vision? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.