Dagestan’s own Sharaputdin Magomedov has had a dream start to his UFC career. In a short period, ‘Bullet’ hasn’t just maintained his undefeated status but has done so in style, showcasing the range of his striking prowess. Magomedov’s all set to compete in his fifth UFC fight against another unique striker, the flashy Michael ‘Venom’ Page at UFC Saudi Arabia.

As unique as both fighters’ styles are, there is one striking thing about Shara’s appearance. But what’s the deal with Magomedov? Well, most fans are well aware of Michael Bisping’s eye, which appears to have been damaged. Well, something similar happened to the rising 185fer. But is that really so? Let’s have a look at that front.

Is Sharaputdin Magomedov blind?

Sharaputdin Magomedov suffered a career-altering injury similar to that of former UFC middleweight champ and current UFC commentator, Michael Bisping. He is one of the few to sustain severe injuries to their eye during a fight. Bisping once took on Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX. The fight was pretty ugly for ‘The Count’. A kick from the infamous ‘TRT-loaded Belfort’ led to Bisping’s retina getting detached, and he had to get it surgically removed in 2018.

Unfortunately, his MMA career took a heavy toll on him, as he lost vision in his right eye. However, the incident of his injury is quite different from how Bisping got his right eye injured. We don’t have many reports detailing Magomedov’s eye injury. A YouTube video from ‘THE FIGHT SECTOR’ revealed that ‘Shara Bullet’ picked up the initial injury to his right eye during one of his training sessions in Thailand.

It also drove him out of competition for a prolonged span of three years. On top of that, Magomedov was on a four-fight winning streak back then. He had also earned a first-round KO victory in the fight preceding his injury. Owing to the injury, he eventually lost his vision completely. Magomedov then laid bare the severity of the issue in an interview for fans to witness.

When he was worried about getting back into the world of MMA, the doctor told him, “The worst thing that can happen to your eye has already happened. Therefore, you can practice.” But it would be immature to make assumptions without hearing from Shara Magomedov himself. So, let’s see what the undefeated fighter had to say about his predicament.

What does Sharaputdin Magomedov have to say about his eye problems?

In an interview with ‘MatchTV’, the Dagestan native revealed that he had to go through extreme trouble following his eye injury. He also revealed that he had endured eight surgeries to his right eye. Magomedov said, “I had many different stages, my eyes were tortured specifically.”

The 30-year-old went into further detail, revealing, “I found myself in a difficult situation – I did not train for two years, I did not fight. In principle, you can divide my whole career into ‘before’ and ‘after’ this injury.” Magomedov also revealed the horrible processes of the surgeries, stating, “Before the operation, I was mainly afraid of an injection in the eye. At this time, local anesthesia is administered, but you feel everything.”

However, several fans might shiver after listening to Magomedov’s next words. He said, “They pierce it from two or three sides.” However, none of those surgeries could suffice to save his right eye. After almost three years of trying, the doctor said to the fighter, “The worst thing that can happen to your eye has already happened. Therefore, you can practice.”

Sharaputdin Magomedov’s comeback into the MMA cage in 2021 had a large chunk of fans lauding his indomitable willpower. His in-cage skills hardly showcased any difference from his previous fights. As stated by Dana White in the past, the 55-year-old claims that Magomedov is likely unable to fight in the USA due to some travel complications.

However, the cause of the travel complications remains unconfirmed, but the popular belief is that it has everything to do with Magomedov’s eye problems. But coming back to his eye issue, there are pictures of him before he suffered his eye injury, so shift our attention to that.

Sharaputdin Magomedov’s photo before going blind

You can find almost anything on the internet! The fans’ curiosity led us to find a post on social media that posted a rare picture of Sharaputdin Magomedov. He looked like an absolutely fit athlete. The picture shows him posing with his fist clenched, wearing a hat and a jacket with his eyes in pristine condition. However, there’s no confirmation about when this picture was taken.

While it might have been a painful experience for him to have lost his vision, his determination has made him one of the best up-and-comers and a talking point in the MMA community. We can be confident that His highlight reel moments inside the Octagon and perfect record could see him get a title shot down the line given that another fighter with the same predicament has done what was then unthinkable.

While many fans consider this a major win considering the physical disadvantage Sharaputdin Magomedov had, several others felt that the fighter did not meet the hype. But he has a chance to shut his critics up once again in his upcoming fight. Do you see him continuing his undefeated record this weekend at UFC Fight Night 250? Let us know in the comments down below.