Undefeated MMA prospect Bilal Hasan will make his long-awaited UFC debut on August 29, but the date means much more to him than simply stepping into the Octagon for the first time.
Hasan, who is clearly a huge Michael Jackson fan, will fight fellow promotional newcomer Nilson Rojas at UFC Shanghai, and he admits that making his UFC debut on Michael Jackson’s birthday feels almost like fate.
“It still feels so surreal to be halfway across the world fighting in China on August 29th on Michael Jackson’s birthday,” Hasan said. “Sounds like something out of like a prophecy or something like that. It still doesn’t feel real.”
And the King of Pop connection will not end there. Hasan has promised fans that he has a special walkout planned for the occasion, making his first appearance in the world’s biggest mixed martial arts competition even more memorable.
For those unfamiliar with him, Bilal Hasan is an undefeated prospect who earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series. The UFC — Ultimate Fighting Championship — is the world’s leading mixed martial arts organisation, bringing together fighters from around the globe across several weight divisions. Hasan’s bout against Rojas will open the main card in Shanghai, with both unbeaten fighters making their UFC debut.
Hasan says he wants to give fans much more than just a victory, promising a performance from beginning to end.
“They’re going to expect a performance from start to finish,” Hasan said. “They’re going to be watching every second of it and they’re going to be seeing me enjoying every second of it.”
With Michael Jackson’s birthday, his UFC debut and a special walkout all coming together on the same night, Hasan certainly sees something special in the timing.
We cannot wait to see what this huge MJ fan has planned when he walks out on August 29!
Where to Watch
Fans who want to see Bilal Hasan make his UFC debut and discover what special Michael Jackson-inspired walkout he has planned, can watch UFC Shanghai live on Saturday, August 29, at 6 a.m. ET on Paramount+.
The event’s main card, which includes Hasan’s fight against Nilson Rojas, is scheduled to stream live on Paramount+.
