LAS VEGAS – Here’s the thing Bilal Hasan probably already knows: His adoration for the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson, in the MMA space means he should prepare to get vibed.
Hasan was the biggest betting favorite in the 10-year history of the show and took out Mridul Saikia in just 45 seconds to get one of two no-brainer UFC contracts at DWCS 87. Then he did MJ’s famous moonwalk across the cage and threw in a few other moves on the way out, as well.
It’d be easy to expect fellow fighters, perhaps those whose names rhyme with, oh, say, “Pawn Dickland” or “Slow-D Shovington,” to let Hasan know they think he’s not such a fly flyweight. But Hasan, born in Hawaii and the first DWCS winner of Indonesian descent, instead will remember the time he won
his UFC deal and brought his love of Jackson, who died in 2009, to the UFC.
“I think it 100 percent comes naturally. You know, Michael Jackson shout out – I hit like probably 10 moonwalks,” Hasan told MMA Junkie and other reporters after the fight. “I’ve been loving him since I was 8 years old. Every time that I hear Michael Jackson and his music, it just brings me back to my 8-year-old self where I just truly just love to perform, be under that spotlight, and just truly express myself.”
Even though DWCS fighters don’t get walkout songs the way they do in the UFC, the house DJ played him back to the locker room with Jackson after his win. And now that his next fight will be in the UFC – hopefully, he said, before year’s end – he knows he’ll be walking out to the “King of Pop.”
“Anything Michael Jackson for sure. Maybe not “Billie Jean” – I mean, definitely “Billie Jean” (will be in consideration). But man, he's got so many bangers.”
Check out Hasan’s full post-fight news conference in the video above.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: After thriller of win at DWCS 87, Bilal Hasan wants UFC debut to beat it
