Shara Magomedov disses America-only Sean Strickland: ‘He’s just the domestic champion’

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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 27: Shara Magomedov of Russia reacts after a victory against Michel Pereira of Brazil in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at National Gymnastics Arena on June 27, 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Shara Magomedov has become a big international star for the UFC, but he’ll never fight in the United States because he’s blind in one eye.

That’s a bit of a problem for “Bullet,” because current middleweight champion Sean Strickland has repeatedly said he has no interest in fighting anywhere other than America. According to “Tarzan,” fighting twice in Australia, twice in Brazil, and twice in Canada during his UFC career was enough business travel for him. If someone wants to fight him or compete for the 185 pound strap while he holds it, it’ll have to be in America.

“He’s like a domestic champion. Just a home boy who acts like a big hero in his gym,” Magomedov told Red Corner MMA. “For example, if they invited him to Azerbaijan he wouldn’t come, because he’s scared. He won’t leave America. And if we had to fight, he would say, ‘Come to America,’ because he knows I can’t go there now. So he’s just a domestic champion.”

Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov says a fight with middleweight champion Sean Strickland is unlikely to happen.

“He’s just a domestic champion,” Magomedov told Red Corner MMA after his victory over Michel Pereira.

“If he ever comes to Abu Dhabi, he’ll ask for five security guards. But… pic.twitter.com/PTdKowme2Y

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) June 28, 2026

“If he ever comes to Abu Dhabi, he will ask for five security guards. Bust most likely he won’t even go there. Like many other’s he’d be like, ‘I’m an American, so I will only fight here.'”

“Bullet” is 6-1 in the UFC but still not in the official top 15 rankings. Neither was his UFC Baku opponent, Michel Pereira, so there’s a good chance Magomedov will remain unranked, and thus further away from a title fight for more reasons than Strickland’s refusal to travel.

Shara has other reasons for having Strickland on his mind. Michel Pereira was training with at XTreme Couture alongside Strickland, who was shown switching up his style and throwing spinning backfists and kicks like “Bullet” in footage from the gym.

“I don’t think he can do it like me,” Magomedov said. “It was an imitation, if a pale one.”

The preparation wasn’t quite enough as Magomedov beat Pereira via 29-28×3 decision in Baku — although we’re sure Strickland may have something to say about the way Magomedov fouled his way through the fight.

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