No, this isn’t a fever dream. According to MMA journalist Igor Lazorin, Dagestani social media sensation – Hasbulla Magomedov – has signed a five-year contract with the UFC. Just not the kind you expected.
“This is a blast from the face! Hasbulla signed a five-year contract with the UFC!,” Lazorin revealed in his most recent Instagram post.
“So far in the plan – attending tournaments, media activity. We will not talk too much in detail, but he’s getting more than most fighters.”
RELATED: Why Are Blokes Obsessed With Hasbulla?
While the promotion itself has yet to confirm this blockbuster development, it isn’t terribly surprising considering how Mini Khabib has long been a fixture of modern MMA culture.
As some of you may recall, Hasbulla entered the Octagon alongside full-sized Khabib Nurmagomedov when their compatriot Islam Makhachev submitted New Zealand’s Dan Hooker at UFC 267. At the very same event, which was hosted in Abu Dhabi last October, Hasbulla sat cageside to witness Petr Yan defeat Cory Sandhagen and Glover Teixeira win the light heavyweight belt from Jan Blachowicz.
Then there’s the matter of his tongue-in-cheek beef with the UFC’s #7 lightweight Rafael Fiziev, as well as his not-so-tongue-in-cheek beef with former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor (more on this later).
Beyond all this, it’s no secret Hasbulla has what Tony Ferguson hilariously dubbed “Dana White Privilege.” Like many of us, the UFC president is quite fond of young Hasbi.
“So I’m going to tell you something. So the video that he sent saying: ‘Dana White I’m coming to Abu Dhabi and UFC,’” Dana White revealed during an interview with Barstool Sports conducted by Robbie Fox ahead of UFC 268: Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington II.
“When I posted that with me on the plane saying, ‘I’m coming,’ it’s the biggest post that I’ve ever posted. I have 6.7 million followers on Instagram. 6.4 million people watched that video. Is that fucking crazy?!”
When prompted about the possibility of an actual UFC fight event headlined by a gloved Hasbulla, potentially against his arch-nemesis Abdu Rozik, White simply replied:
“I love the kid. Is there more than a zero percent chance? Yes.”
But Abdu might have to get in line for a shot at the big dog.
RELATED: We Took Hasbulla Go-Karting In Sydney Last Night
Hasbulla has periodically called out Conor McGregor in light-hearted fashion – because who in their right mind would feel legitimately threatened by a bloke who’s a metre tall and weighs only 18 kilos? Earlier this month, Hasbi even decided to do a bit of trolling by naming his pet chicken after the MMA icon.
“This is my chicken named Conor McGregor… there’s my beauty,” Hasbulla can be heard saying in the viral footage embedded below.
A few weeks ago, emotions have got the better of 2021’s highest-paid athlete (according to Forbes). And what was initially a bit of fun has since become rather mean-spirited.
“I’d love to boot that little gimp Hasbulla over a goal post,” tweeted Conor McGregor.
“How much to get him on the volley? Little smelly inbred.”
“I’m gonna make it my mission to score a three pointer with him one day, hon the gaa.”
It didn’t take long before Hasbulla responded via his Crypto Hasbulla NFT account.
“I don’t follow bums… didn’t know someone was running their mouth. @ me next time @TheNotoriousMMA,” the beloved 20-year-old TikTok megastar tweeted with cat emojis.
“At least one of us maintained an undefeated record… Hasbulla: 1. Conor: 0.”
“If @TheNotoriousMMA is really a man… see me in Abu Dhabi. Got smashed by [Khabib Nurmagomedov already. Guess his money from Mayweather ran out and he needs more attention.”
RELATED: Hasbulla Arrested In Dagestan After Joyride Antics
It got to the point where reigning UFC featherweight champion and newly crowned pound-for-pound king, Alexander Volkanovski, stepped in to defend Hasbulla.
“You’ll have to go through me first — leave my mate alone @TheNotoriousMMA,” tweeted Alexander Volkanovski.
“Conor better watch himself,” Dana White joked on the My Mom’s Basement podcast in the days following.
“If he runs into Hasbulla then he’s gonna be in some big trouble!”
Safe to say, a catchweight bout between Hasbulla Magomedov and Conor McGregor would break every single pay-per-view record in the history of sports (not just MMA).
Now that you’ve read about his UFC contract, check out everything we know about Hasbulla Magomedov – and I really mean everything – in our comprehensive write-up. While you’re at it, check out the time we took Hasbulla go-karting during his 2022 Australian Tour here.
