“I just lied my a– off in every test. Somehow, I would pass, but even on-site.” Former 185lbs kingpin Michael Bisping once admitted he spent half of his career fighting with only one eye. However, the Englishman wasn’t always like this. His infamous bout against the TRT buffed version of Vitor Belfort in 2013, where the Brazilian’s head kick detached ‘The Count’s right retina, left him completely blind in that eye. Despite the severe injury, Bisping, with intelligence and his team’s support, cleverly outwitted Dana White and state commissions, eventually winning the middleweight title with one eye. Truly epic!
However, not everyone is as fortunate as him. Rising middleweight star Shara Magomedov has quickly emerged as a force. When fight fans witnessed his double-spinning back fist finish at UFC 308, the sky seemed the limit for the KO artist. But just like Bisping, Magomedov has no vision in his right eye which began way before his UFC career. Moreover, a total of 8 surgeries also forced the Dagestani to take a break from competition between March 2018 and July 2021. These issues are well-known and recognized by the commissions, making it “probably not” possible for him to fight on American soil.
Dana White confirmed this, explaining, “We’ll keep him out here” in Middle Eastern UFC events due to commission concerns. Despite these limitations, Shara Magomedov has fought in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi for his all UFC bouts. Amidst this hubbub, Kevin Holland, who’s eager to face ‘Bullet’, made it clear that he would only fight him in the U.S. Speaking to the media ahead of UFC London, Holland said, “If Shara Bullet can come to America, I’ll fight him. But I’m interested in fighting anybody; that’s how I get paid.”
Fans know Kevin Holland for taking any fight, anywhere, driven not by a pursuit of titles, but by the desire for financial gain. His last fight, two months ago against Reinier de Ridder, ended in defeat, leaving him on a two-fight losing streak with a 1-4 record in his last five outings. Meanwhile, the Dagestani export is coming off the first loss of his career to Michael Venom Page in Saudi Arabia this past February. Despite this, fighting on U.S. soil remains a challenge for him.
Magomedov himself has confirmed that a “special agreement” in certain states could open the door for him to fight in the U.S. For the unversed, an experienced 135-pound fighter by the name of Miley has fought with one eye and has highlighted his experience. Last year, Miley shared on X, proudly stating, “17 pro fights and counting.”
With a current 10-7 MMA record, Miley fought in Tennessee last year, where his bout was sanctioned by the state commission. He has also fought successfully in Michigan and Virginia, never allowing his vision impairment to hold him back. However, Miley’s Bellator debut in 2022 was disrupted by the Mohegan Sun’s athletic commission, but despite the setback, he remains optimistic about the Dagestani prospect’s future.
However, it seems that ‘Bullet’ wouldn’t consider requesting an exception from Dana White and the UFC to make his U.S. debut. Let’s explore this further.
Why does Shara Magomedov hesitate to pick a fight in America?
The time difference between the United States and Russian states, including those in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), is significant. The CIS countries gained independence in 1991 following the dissolution of the USSR with Russia playing a central role. These nations span multiple time zones, creating a wide range of time differences. For instance, New York, in the Eastern Time Zone, is 8 hours behind Moscow. If it’s noon in Moscow, it will be 4:00 am in New York.
Shara Magomedov voiced his concerns about the impact of these time differences on his fans in CIS countries during an interview with Red Courier MMA. He shared, “I can still participate in many events in the United States…I was ready to fight in the US for my local fans, but I still prioritize my fans from the CIS countries—our strong Russian men, the people from the Caucasus. I want to fight at times that are convenient for them to watch. If I fight in the US, my fans would have to wake up very early to see the fight.”
Considering everyone’s demands, Alaska might be the ideal spot to host the event for the Dagestani striker—still on American soil but just 2.4 miles from Russian land. Of course, this is just a light-hearted suggestion! What are your thoughts? Do you think Dana White & Co. will include Shara Magomedov in American events? Share your opinion below.
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