Shara Bullet has revealed he contracted dengue fever during a training camp in Thailand ahead of his fight with Barrio, spending two weeks bedridden with a temperature of 40°C, skin sores, and hair loss. He flew to Abu Dhabi in a weakened state and still managed to win the bout. After the fight he underwent surgery and spent two days unable to sleep, then experienced two weeks of breathing difficulties before fully recovering.
Shara "Bullet" Magomedov has opened up about a grueling health ordeal that surrounded his fight against Barrio, revealing he competed while still recovering from a serious bout of dengue fever contracted during a training camp in Thailand.
Magomedov disclosed that the illness left him bedridden for two weeks, battling a fever that reached 40 degrees Celsius. The effects were severe — skin sores and significant hair loss among the symptoms — leaving him in a noticeably weakened condition heading into fight week. Despite the setback, he made the trip to Abu Dhabi and stepped into the cage, ultimately leaving with a victory.
The difficulties did not end when the final bell sounded. Magomedov underwent surgery following the fight and described spending two days without sleep in the immediate aftermath of the procedure. A further two weeks of breathing complications followed before he was able to declare himself fully recovered.
Why it matters
- The disclosure adds significant context to Magomedov's performance, suggesting he entered the bout physically compromised well below his usual condition.
- Competing with a high fever and the lingering effects of dengue fever — a disease known to cause extreme fatigue and muscle weakness — raises questions about how different the fight may have looked at full health.
- The post-fight surgery reveals the physical toll of the camp and contest combined, underscoring the demands placed on fighters beyond what is visible on fight night.
The candid account paints a picture of a fighter who absorbed considerable physical punishment even before setting foot inside the octagon, making the result all the more striking given the circumstances he described.
