Shara Magomedov, better known as Shara Bullet, has long battled through a serious eye injury, but his determination remains unshaken. As he prepares to face Armen Petrosyan in a middleweight showdown at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi this Saturday, Magomedov revealed how former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has been a source of motivation in his career.
Bisping famously suffered an eye injury in 2013 after a head kick from Vitor Belfort, yet went on to capture the UFC middleweight title, ultimately competing with a prosthetic eye before retiring. Speaking at UFC 308’s media day, Magomedov acknowledged Bisping’s influence on his ability to persevere.
“When it comes to Bisping, yes, he is a motivation because he’s somebody who has gone down this path already,” Magomedov explained via a translator. “He set an example for me, so it’s much easier to follow somebody’s path. The most important thing is not to give up, keep moving forward, and chase your dreams.”
Despite the injury, Magomedov has remained undefeated in his UFC career. He joined the promotion in 2023 and holds an 11-0 MMA record, with victories over his first three opponents. In August, he secured a decision win over Michal Oleksiejczuk and soon after made headlines with an unexpected callout of Nick Diaz, a 41-year-old UFC veteran set to fight Vicente Luque at UFC 310.
Magomedov clarified his intentions, admitting the callout was more symbolic. “He’s not at a level where he can compete for titles, but when it comes to Kevin Holland, I think I’ll get to him one day,” he said, signaling a desire for a future bout with the two-division fighter.
Magomedov now turns his attention to Armen Petrosyan, a skilled kickboxer and former training partner. While he knows Petrosyan well, Magomedov acknowledges the unpredictability of fight night.
“I don’t even know what’s going to happen,” he said. “I think the exciting part is that anything can happen inside the octagon.”
As Magomedov continues his rise in the middleweight division, all eyes will be on how he handles the challenges ahead, including his highly anticipated clash with Petrosyan.
