What happened to Shara Magomedov's eye? Injury that left UFC star blind in one eye explained
01/28/2025 03:45 PM
UFC middleweight Shara Magomedov’s fighting success is despite competing with only one healthy eye.
Shara Magomedov‘s rise in the middleweight division has been fast, highlight-filled, and unprecedented. Ahead of his return to the Octagon at UFC Riyadh, many fans and pundits have wondered what’s wrong with Magomedov’s right eye.
Magomedov will face fellow striking fan favorite Michael ‘Venom’ Page in the UFC Riyadh co-main event this Saturday. The undefeated Russian could potentially move into the middleweight Top 10 with a victory over Page, after entering the rankings following his most recent win over Armen Petrosyan.
Due to an eye injury he suffered earlier in his career, Magomedov is a hard fighter to book around the world, as many athletic commissions refuse to allow him to compete while half-blind. This is why the UFC hasn’t booked him for a fight in the United States, and he’s only fought in the Octagon in the Middle East.
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Shara Magomedov suffered a blinding eye injury while sparring in Thailand
Earlier in his career, during a routine training session in Thailand, Magomedov suffered a nasty eye injury while sparring at the gym. He underwent multiple surgeries after the incident, but despite the efforts of doctors, his eye condition worsened in the following weeks.
After multiple attempts to repair his eye, Magomedov was left blind in one eye, and he feared his combat sports career was over. But after UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping’s rise to the middleweight title despite a similar eye injury, Magomedov was motivated to carry on.
Magomedov’s fighting base is Muay Thai and despite his early talent, he struggled to stay afloat financially due to mountains of debt and low pay for kickboxing fights. He transitioned to MMA in 2017, winning his professional debut by knockout in just 43 seconds.
After an 11-0 start to his MMA career, the UFC took a chance on the promising middleweight prospects in 2023, winning his UFC debut by unanimous decision over Bruno Silva. Fans and pundits were concerned with his takedown defense in his first UFC outing, and in the three fights since then, he’s showcased vast improvements.
Shara Magomedov is one of the hardest UFC fighters to book
A win over Page this weekend would lead to a new chapter in Magomedov’s life and career. He’s already blossomed into a regional superstar, but a masterclass against an equally dangerous striker in Page would give him more worldwide attention.
But the UFC still has a pressing issue in booking Magomedov around the world as he continues to ascend the middleweight rankings. If the promotion isn’t able to convince athletic commissions to allow him to fight in the U.S. and other locations with his eye condition, they’re severely limited in booking him for top bouts.
Despite being blind in one eye, Magomedov has proven himself as one of the most dangerous men in the world. As he continues to find success inside the Octagon, he’s an inspiration to those who feel they’re without hope due to a medical scenario outside of their control.
