Shara Bullet has revealed he contracted dengue fever while training in Thailand ahead of his fight with Barrio, spending approximately two weeks bedridden with a fever of 40°C, skin sores, and hair loss. He recovered just enough to fly to Abu Dhabi and compete, ultimately winning the bout. Immediately after the fight, Bullet underwent emergency surgery and spent two sleepless days in recovery, struggling to breathe for two weeks post-operation.
Shara "Bullet" Magomedov has disclosed that he battled a serious illness and underwent emergency surgery in the period surrounding his victory over Israel Adesanya's replacement opponent Roman Barrio, painting a picture of one of the more remarkable physical ordeals in recent UFC memory.
According to Magomedov, he contracted dengue fever while training in Thailand in the lead-up to the bout. The illness left him bedridden for approximately two weeks, with a fever reaching 40 degrees Celsius, skin sores, and significant hair loss. He recovered just enough to make the trip to Abu Dhabi and step into the cage, ultimately coming away with the win.
The ordeal did not end with the final bell. Immediately after the fight concluded, Magomedov underwent emergency surgery, followed by two sleepless days in post-operative recovery. He also revealed that breathing remained a struggle for two weeks following the procedure, underscoring the severity of whatever medical issue required urgent intervention.
Why it matters
- Dengue fever is a potentially life-threatening mosquito-borne illness, and competing at elite level while recovering from it represents an extraordinary physical risk.
- The disclosure raises questions about medical protocols and fighter welfare in the lead-up to high-profile bouts.
- Magomedov's willingness to compete under those conditions will likely intensify his already-growing reputation as one of the division's most compelling figures.
The revelation adds significant context to what appeared on the surface to be a routine victory. Competing through a debilitating infectious disease and then requiring emergency surgery in the immediate aftermath reframes the result entirely. Magomedov chose to keep the situation private until now, offering no excuses before or during the fight.
