Shara Bullet Magomedov eye: How UFC Saudi Arabia star lost eye after horrific surgery that left him feeling ‘tortured’
UNDEFEATED middleweight prospect Sharabutdin Magomedov makes his eagerly-anticipated return this weekend.
The kickboxing sensation returns to the octagon tonight at UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia.
Magomedov, 30, will throw down with fellow fan favourite and Brit sensation Michael 'Venom' Page.
The kickboxing sensation had long been on the radar of die-hard mixed martial arts fans, many of whom watched him ply his trade in his native Russia.
But he only came to the attention of casual fans of the sport when he made his UFC debut in October 2023.
Magomedov entered the UFC's stacked middleweight division with a 90 PER CENT knockout rate, which excited fans about his chances in the weight class.
READ MORE UFC NEWS
He's gone a perfect 4-0 in the promotion, despite only having ONE FUNCTION EYE.
Magomedov suffered severe damage to his right eye early in his career and underwent EIGHT operations to try and save it.
He lost two years of his career as docs tried to salvage his eye and restore what little vision he had left.
They were, unfortunately, unable to and had to remove part of the vital organ.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
When recalling the partial removal of the eye, the Dagestani said: “Before the operation, I was mainly afraid of an injection in the eye.
"I watched this video. Very unpleasant. I thought that was the most boring thing ever.
"And there were such operations when an injection in the eye had to be made, where it was removed, one might say.
"At this time, local anaesthesia is administered, but you feel everything.
"They pierce [the eye] from two or three sides. It seems that a puncture is a camera, and the other two are something to pump, upload something there.
"I had many different stages, my eyes were tortured specifically.”
Attempting to save his vision came at a great financial cost to Magamedov and his family.
In an interview with Athletistic, he said: "It took a lot of money.
"But at that time, I was under the care of my parents.
"I found myself in a difficult situation – I did not train for two years, I did not fight."
Magomedov contemplated quitting the fight game after the operation but found the strength to renew his career thanks to his loved ones.
He said: "You can divide my whole career into 'before' and 'after' this injury.
"But after that, I collected my thoughts.
"My friends believed in me, and everything was fine."
Most doctors advise fighters to call it quits at the first sign of any problems with their eyes, let alone after having one partially removed.
Magamedov, however, was sensationally given the all-clear to continue doing what he loves.
He said: "The doctor says: the worst thing that can happen to your eye has already happened.
Many fight fans reckon Magomedov's visual impairment puts him at an incredible disadvantage, but not Page, who told SunSport: "I personally would say no [I'm not at an advantage].
"And the only reason I'm gonna say no is because this man's 15-0.
"This guy hasn't been getting hit with stuff.
"I know how amazing human beings can be with what we class as maybe a disability.
"But we've had guys with one arm before fight exceptionally [well].
"We've got guys with one leg. If we put our mind to anything, we can do anything we want.
"There's no such thing as a real disadvantage because our body; we just adapt.
"The fact that he hasn't been caught means that one eye is good enough.
"So I don't, I don't see that as an advantage, but I do see me just being me as an advantage.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"So I just need to go in there and make sure I'm the best me on that day.
"And as talented as he is, he's he's not gonna overcome this."