Shara Bullet has detailed a harrowing dengue fever illness he suffered during training camp in Thailand ahead of his fight against Barrio in Abu Dhabi. The fighter was bedridden for nearly two weeks with a 40-degree fever, developed sores, and began losing hair after being bitten by a mosquito during an open-mat grappling session. He traveled to Abu Dhabi in a weakened state and still managed to win the bout, only to end up on the operating table for surgery immediately after the fight. Bullet says he was unable to sleep for two days post-surgery as his body remained locked in a heightened state of alertness, and he struggled to breathe for two weeks following the operation.
Shara "Bullet" Puchinyan has revealed he battled a severe case of dengue fever throughout his training camp in Thailand before traveling to Abu Dhabi to compete, disclosing the full extent of his physical ordeal in a recent interview.
The illness began after Puchinyan was bitten by a mosquito during an open-mat grappling session. The infection rapidly worsened, leaving him bedridden for nearly two weeks with a fever reaching 40 degrees Celsius. The symptoms extended beyond the fever itself — he developed open sores on his body and began losing hair as the illness took hold during what should have been a critical preparation period.
Despite arriving in Abu Dhabi in a significantly weakened state, Puchinyan pushed through the fight against Barrio and earned the victory. What followed, however, compounded his troubles considerably. He was taken into surgery immediately after the bout, and the recovery proved brutally difficult in its own right.
Why it matters
- The disclosure underscores how much Puchinyan endured to secure the win, fighting through illness that would sideline most athletes entirely
- Post-fight surgery added another serious layer to an already compromised physical condition
- The two-week period following the operation left him struggling to breathe, while sleep deprivation — going without rest for two days after surgery — slowed his recovery further
Puchinyan described his body remaining locked in a heightened state of alertness after the operation, preventing any meaningful rest. The breathing difficulties persisted for a full two weeks post-surgery, painting a stark picture of the cumulative toll the entire camp and fight cycle placed on him.
The account adds important context to the Abu Dhabi result, revealing that the victory came under circumstances far removed from standard fight preparation.
