Dana White jokingly endorsed the Russian social media star to prevail in a street fight with the Irishman.
UFC president Dana White confirmed that his promotion signed Russian internet celebrity Hasbulla Magomedov, jokingly predicting he would emerge victorious if the social media star and Conor McGregor decided to settle their feud on the street.
Close friends with McGregor’s former Octagon rival Khabib Nurmagomedov, Hasublla became a rising social media star in 2021 after a video of him taking on rival Abdu Rozik went viral.
A planned fight between Hasbulla and Rozik never took place, but Hasbulla’s career went from strength to strength as he amassed a legion of 3.6 million Instagram followers.
A five-year deal to work with the UFC’s media relations department was rumored in September and then made public when Hasbulla revealed last week that he had signed a deal to “fight” under the elite MMA banner.
“The rumors are true,” wrote Hasbulla, 20, who suffers from a rare genetic growth deficiency.
“I have officially signed an agreement to fight in the UFC! Details will be revealed by the end of the year. Thanks to my team for making this dream come true.”
During a podcast appearance with Barstool Sports’ Robbie Fox, White confirmed Hasbulla’s deal with the UFC, but did not provide further details on what his role will entail, or whether or not he will actually fight.
“Yes, we signed Hasbulla. And what he ends up doing remains to be seen,” said White.
Revealing that McGregor has yet to contact him about signing Hasbulla, White jokingly predicted a nasty end for the Irishman if he and Hasbulla cross paths.
“Conor is going to be screwed and beaten up if he meets him. [Hasbulla] on the streets”, said White.
McGregor and Hasbulla’s feud has been simmering ever since Dagestan named its chicken after the former UFC two-weight champion.
The online bout escalated last month when McGregor referred to Hasbulla as a “cañutillo” and he said he would love to “throw” to the “over a goal post”
McGregor also called Hasbulla a “stinky little inbred”, provoking an instant response from Dagestan.
When he put pen to paper with the UFC, Hasbulla called out McGregor.
“I have my UFC contract now, if Conor McGregor is really a man… see me in Abu Dhabi,” he demanded.
“I was already crushed by Khabib. Guess your money from [Floyd] Mayweather ran out and needs more attention.” Hasbulla added.
McGregor responded by tweeting a photo of himself holding a children’s toy with Hasbulla’s face photoshopped and wrote: “Now what you’re saying, you little coward.”
‘The Notorious’ went on to offer Hasbulla a sparring match, although the Russian responded “this is what i have been waiting for, as usual it was deleted” after McGregor wrote down his message.
“Conor McGregor, just me and leave the tweet”, Hasbulla insisted.
If he is allowed to fight, a more realistic opponent for Hasbulla in the UFC Octagon is Rozik.
At UFC 267 in October of last year, the pair almost came to blows on the sidelines of the main event when Jan Blachowicz contested a light heavyweight title fight against Glover Teixeira.
Hasbulla will attend UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi this Saturday, where his friend and fellow Dagestani Islam Makhachev will meet Brazilian Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title.