Shara Bullet wins decision over Pereira at UFC Baku

Sharabutdin “Shara Bullet” Magomedov overcame an early knockdown to defeat Michel Pereira by unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC Baku on Saturday, June 27. The victory, scored 29-28 on all three judges’ cards, marked his successful return after a year away from competition.

The fight at Baku’s National Gymnastics Arena began perilously for Magomedov, who was dropped by a Pereira right hand in the first round. Pereira followed with significant ground-and-pound, but Magomedov survived and managed to reverse position late in the round. He regained his footing in the second and third rounds, utilizing a diverse kicking attack to the legs and body to outwork Pereira and secure the decision win.

The bout was not without controversy, as referee Herb Dean issued multiple warnings to Magomedov for fouls, including pulling Pereira’s hair and an inadvertent eye poke in the final round. Dean did not deduct a point for the infractions.

Following the win, Magomedov expressed interest in a high-profile matchup against former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. He described Adesanya as a great, fast, and interesting fighter, but also indicated he would be willing to step...