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Shara Magomedov, known as “Shara Bullet,” has been fighting through an eye injury since 2016, and for him, the determination of former UFC champion Michael Bisping serves as a powerful source of inspiration. As Bullet prepares to face Armen Petrosyan this Saturday at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, he reflects on how Bisping’s resilience in overcoming a similar injury has fueled his own fighting career.
Bisping, who suffered a severe eye injury after a brutal head kick from Vitor Belfort in 2013, fought with the handicap for years before finally retiring in 2017. Despite the injury, Bisping went on to capture the UFC middleweight title and cemented his legacy as a Hall of Famer, even as the condition worsened to the point where he now has a prosthetic eye. For Bullet, Bisping’s journey is a roadmap he is determined to follow.
“Bisping is a motivation because he’s someone who’s already walked this path. He’s set the example,” said Bullet through a translator during UFC 308 media day. “He’s shown that anything is possible as long as you keep pushing forward and chasing your dream.”
Bullet is no stranger to adversity, having racked up 19 professional fights while opponents tried to exploit his injury. Yet, he remains undefeated in the UFC, with an 11-0 record and three dominant wins since joining the promotion in 2023. He credits Bisping’s example for helping him navigate these challenges, knowing that mental toughness can often outweigh physical limitations.
“Every opponent has tried to take advantage of my eye, but it didn’t go their way,” Bullet remarked. “The most important thing is to not give up, and Bisping showed me that.”
Aside from his fight preparation, Bullet raised eyebrows with his unexpected callout of UFC veteran Nick Diaz following his recent victory over Michal Oleksiejczuk. Diaz, a fan favorite, is currently set to face Vicente Luque at UFC 310. Bullet explained that the callout was more symbolic than serious.
“It was a shot in the air,” Bullet admitted. “Nick’s not in title contention anymore, so it was just about seeing what would happen.”
However, Bullet’s ambition to face Kevin Holland, another UFC middleweight on the rise, is much more real.
“When it comes to Kevin Holland, I think I’ll get to him one day. We’ll see who’s tougher,” he added, already anticipating a high-stakes, damage-heavy showdown between the two.
Before thinking too far ahead, Bullet remains focused on Petrosyan, a formidable kickboxer who has proven himself tough to beat. The two have trained together in the past, but Bullet expects the fight to be unpredictable.
“To be honest, I don’t even know what to expect from myself in the octagon,” Bullet said. “That’s the exciting part—anything can happen on fight night.”
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