Fans have been asking this question for years, especially after one of the most frightening moments in Belal Muhammad’s UFC career. So let’s clear it up once and for all:
No — Belal Muhammad is NOT blind in one eye.
But yes, he suffered a serious eye injury that could have gone very wrong. Here’s the full story, explained in simple language, without rumors or exaggeration.
What Happened to Belal Muhammad’s Eye?
The confusion started back in March 2021 during his main event against Leon Edwards at UFC Vegas 21. Early in the second round, Edwards accidentally poked Belal directly in the eye.
It was a brutal poke — the kind that made everyone watching instantly wince.
Belal immediately dropped to the canvas in pain, covering his right eye. The referee stopped the fight, and it was eventually ruled a No Contest because the injury was accidental and happened too early in the bout.
After the fight, Belal shared a shocking photo of his swollen, bloodshot eye — and that’s what led many fans to believe he might have permanent vision damage.
Was He Ever Actually Blind?
In the immediate moments after the poke, Belal himself admitted he feared the worst.
He said he couldn’t see anything out of the injured eye and thought:
“Please don’t tell me I’m blind right now.”
That fear was real. His eye wouldn’t open properly, and his vision was completely blurred during those moments.
But here’s the important part:
His vision DID return.
There was NO permanent damage.
And he made a full recovery.
Doctors later confirmed that while the injury was severe, it left no long-term blindness, no retinal damage, and no permanent loss of vision.
So Why Do People Think He’s Blind?
There are a few reasons this rumor keeps popping up:
1. The injury looked very bad.
The swelling, bleeding, and discoloration made it seem like something far more serious than a temporary eye trauma.
2. Belal’s reaction after the poke was dramatic.
Understandably — when you suddenly lose vision in one eye, panic is natural.
3. Eye injuries in MMA have ended careers before.
Fans feared Belal would join that list. Luckily, he didn’t.
4. His rivalry with Leon Edwards kept the moment alive.
Because the fight ended controversially, clips of the eye poke went viral for years.
Did the Injury Affect His Career?
Not in the way many people expected.
Instead of holding him back, Belal actually came back better than ever.
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He went on a long undefeated streak.
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He beat top welterweights like Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, and Sean Brady.
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He eventually became the UFC Welterweight Champion in 2024.
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He competed at the absolute highest level with zero signs of lingering eye problems.
If he had serious or permanent damage, he wouldn’t have been medically cleared to fight — especially not at championship level.
Does He Still Have Issues with That Eye?
Publicly, Belal has said multiple times that:
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His vision is normal
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There are no lasting symptoms
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The injury healed completely
In interviews, he’s joked about the viral moment but made it clear that he sees perfectly out of both eyes.
From a performance standpoint, nothing about his striking or defensive reactions suggests impaired vision.
Why This Story Matters
The eye poke incident adds another layer to Belal Muhammad’s story:
It shows his toughness.
Many fighters struggle to come back mentally after a traumatic injury like that. Not Belal — he returned stronger.
It highlights his resilience.
He went from fearing blindness to becoming UFC champion within a few years.
It explains why fans still search about his eye.
The moment was scary, dramatic, and memorable — it stuck with everyone who saw it.
Final Answer: Is Belal Muhammad Blind in One Eye?
No — he is NOT blind in one eye.
He temporarily lost vision after a brutal eye poke in 2021, but he fully recovered, suffered no permanent damage, and continued fighting at the highest level in the UFC.
The eye poke was a terrifying moment, but it didn’t define his career. If anything, it shows the kind of mental and physical toughness that has made Belal Muhammad one of the most respected welterweights of his era.
