One-eyed Russian UFC star scores vicious knockout but win is overshadowed by mid-fight cheating
Sharaputdin Magomedov scored a vicious third-round knockout win over Antonio Trocoli at UFC Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
However, his victory was overshadowed by a blatant foul in the second round.
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As Trocoli drove Magomedov against the cage in pursuit of a takedown, the one-eyed Russian UFC fighter grabbed the fence to prevent himself from being pulled down to the canvas.
Referee Marc Goddard chose not to deduct a point from Magomedov, as is commonplace, and instead issued a stern warning - much to the dismay of UFC commentators Michael Bisping, Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik.
"He grabbed the fence," cried out Bisping before Anik said: "That was a blatant fence grab."
Cormier then exclaimed: "That was about as bad as it gets, that's one you take a point away from straight away."
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Shocked by Goddard's decision not to intervene, Anik added: "Either give a takedown or you take a point, but inconsistency with elite referees tonight in terms of how they handle that exact situation."
It proved to be costly for Trocoli, who was exhausted by the third stanza due to the effort he put in trying to take down Magomedov.
A knee and right hand rocked the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner to his core before Magomedov closed the show with a big left hook that sent Trocoli down and out.
It marked Magomedov's second win in two UFC fights since signing with the MMA leader in 2023.
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Ahead of his debut against Bruno Silva at UFC 294 in October last year, which he won via unanimous decision, there was a lot of media attention surrounding Magomedov's eye condition.
The 30-year-old middleweight contender, who is 13-0 as a pro, injured his right eye in 2016 and due to a lack of care, the condition worsened.
His eye required eight surgeries over the course of roughly a year and a half and he is now completely blind on his right side.
UFC Legend Michael Bisping shockingly removes his prosthetic eye live on air!
Although it is certainly an incredible feat to be competing with such heavily obscured vision, he is not the first UFC fighter to have done so.
He previously described the procedures on his eye as 'torture'.
He said: "There were such operations when an injection in the eye had to be made, where it was removed, one might say.
In an interview with ATHLETISTIC: "At this time, local anesthesia is administered, but you feel everything. They pierce it from two or three sides… I had many different stages, my eyes were tortured specifically.”
Former UFC middleweight champion, Bisping, fought with one eye for several years, resulting from an injury sustained in a knockout loss to Vitor Belfort in 2013.
In 2022, Bisping gave talkSPORT listeners a little more than they bargained for when he removed his false eye live in the studio.
Magomedov was quickly called out by Bo Nickal after his win.
The talented American wrestler thinks he can exploit Magomedov's suspect grappling skills, but the Russian fancies his chances in the matchup.
"Yes, Bo Nickal is an interesting opponent, interesting fight," he said at a post-fight press conference.
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"He has good wrestling. Wrestling, now for me, no problem. I'm from Dagestan. You know brother, Russia. Russian men, icemen, no problem.
"Wrestling, takedown, no problem. Dangerous, damage, elbow, knee, let's go."
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