Russian sensation Hasbulla announces UFC fight deal – Reuters

Russian social media star Hasbulla Magomedov says he will « Fighting in the UFC » after the Dagestani blogger announced a deal with the world’s leading MMA promotion.

« The rumors are true » Hasbulla wrote in a post on his social media on Thursday.

“I have officially signed a deal to fight in the UFC! Details will be revealed by the end of the year.

Hasbulla thanked the UFC and its president Dana White for the opportunity, as well as name-checking MMA icon and fellow Dagestani Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The blogger, 20, also said that official UFC merchandise bearing his name will soon be available to fight fans.

Hasbulla, 20, is already a big favorite in the MMA world.

He burst onto the scene in 2021 following a series of confrontations with Tajik blogger Abdu Rozik, who also suffers from a rare genetic growth disorder that makes the couple look childish.

A fight between the duo never materialized, although Hasbulla’s fame continued to rise around the world and he boasts of having followed millions of social media, as well as a multitude of accounts of fans.

Nicknamed ‘Hasbik’, he was feted by megastars such as NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and was guest of honor at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi last October – pictured alongside Dana White .

Hasbulla counts UFC lightweight legend Khabib among his close friends and would join ‘The Eagle’ in Islam Makchachev’s corner when the Dagestan fighter contests the vacant UFC 155-pound title against Charles Oliveira in Abu Dhabi. later this month.

Reports of a five-year promotional deal between Hasbulla and the UFC first appeared in Russian media last month.

While Hasbulla details « struggle » with the promotion were not immediately available, speculation centered on a revival of his grudge match against Abdu Rozik – as well as slightly more outlandish claims from past and present UFC roster members.

An officially sanctioned fight would seem unlikely – even by the increasingly bizarre standards of what some modern MMA has to offer – but based on Hasbulla’s announcement, everything should become clear by the end of the season. year.