Shara Magomedov was snapped up by MMA’s premier promotion after an eight-second win.
‘Bullet’ was one of the most talked about unsigned prospects before joining the UFC in 2023.
The one-eyed Russian gained a cult-like following due to his unique backstory and exciting fight style.
Shara Magomedov put himself on the cusp big things by amassing a 10-0 record, which included nine knockout victories, before facing 7-6 fighter Kushal Vyas in December 2022.
How Shara Magomedov earned his UFC contract
Magomedov vs. Vyas seemed like a mismatch, but no one thought their fight would end so quickly.
One shot was all Magomedov needed to KO his opponent, move to 11-0, and earn a UFC contract.
The two fighters touched gloves before Vyas immediately shot in for an ill-advised takedown attempt.
Magomedov caught him with a perfectly-timed knee coming in, essentially ending the fight.
The middleweight star landed a flurry of follow-up punches on his concussed opponent before the referee waved things off after just eight seconds.
What’s next for Shara Magomedov?
Magomedov hasn’t fought since suffering his first career defeat against Michael ‘Venom’ Page, who outpointed him over three rounds in February.
The 15-1 fan favorite will look to get back to winning ways at UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday night.
He’ll square off against Marc-André Barriault at the Etihad Arena in the United Arab Emirates.
A win would put Magomedov in line for a fight with someone in the middleweight top 15.
If the 31-year-old loses against Barriault, his UFC career would be left in a precarious position.