Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov might be dominating the UFC Saudi Arabia headlines, but fans are also counting down to what should be an unbelievable striker vs striker showdown in the co-main.
That outstanding chief supporting act will be a middleweight bout between Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov and British star Michael ‘Venom’ Page – a matchup that many believe has the potential to be a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender.
Ahead of undoubtedly the biggest fight of his career to date, the one-eyed ‘Bullet’ has now opened up on how a UFC legend inspired him to pursue his dream of becoming UFC champion.
Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov on how Michael Bisping inspired UFC career
Michael Bisping famously won the UFC middleweight title with just one eye, having faked his way through medical tests in order to trick doctors to allow him to fight – something that Shara Magomedov takes great inspiration from.
“You know, it’s something that I’ve said before because Bisping indeed was a big inspiration for me; because of all the surgeries and all of the procedures that I had to have with my eye, in order to try and fix it,” he explained to Kevin Iole earlier this week.
Magomedov first lost vision in his right eye after suffering a freak injury during a routine sparring session in Thailand; and unfortunately, after a series of unsuccessful operations, he lost his sight completely just a few weeks later.
“I wasn’t sure in myself; I wasn’t sure if somebody with their vision impaired like mine could fight and could actually do it… So, when I saw that Bisping actually did it, and he got the belt, to me that was a huge motivation.”
Magomedov has certainly impressed fans so far in his UFC tenure; going 4-0 since signing to the promotion in 2023, including a rare double spinning backfist KO in his last fight.
Yet that isn’t to assume that the Bullet’s path to global success was straightforward, admitting that at the start of his career, he was surrounding by doubters and pessimists.
“I didn’t listen to anybody, I decided to keep on going through with it, and since then I’ve had more than 30 fights… In kickboxing and in Muay Thai, 20 MMA matches – I didn’t listen to anybody, and it looks like it’s paying off.
Michael Bisping ‘takes eye out’ in UFC Saudi Arabia interview with ‘Bullet’
Michael Bisping got the opportunity to speak with Shara Magomedov ahead of his middleweight showdown against MVP; with the two bonding over their shared condition in one of the most wholesome MMA moments of the year so far.
Bisping would even remove his glass eye cover to better resemble Magomedov, embracing the active UFC middleweight before sharing that he’s also inspired by the Bullet’s ascension in the division.
“It’s incredible, man, what you’ve achieved so far – I know what you’re going to do in the future, and you should be very proud, I’m inspired by you, I really am, and I truly mean that.”
“You are a legend,” responded Magomedov, reiterating: “Honestly, if it wasn’t for you, I probably would have stopped fighting.”
Can Shara Magomedov extend his unbeaten streak and enter the Top 10 of the middleweight division? Find out this weekend, UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Imavov goes down this Saturday, February 1, live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.