It’s official! Hasbulla will feature in the UFC’s latest video game.
The social media icon, who has a form of dwarfism caused by growth hormone deficiency, is a massive fight fan and has made several cameos at UFC events in recent years.
Now, the 21-year-old Russian has made his video game debut as he appears in EA Sports UFC 5 – although Hasbulla doesn’t seem to be a playable character.
An eagled-eyed fan with early access to the UFC’s latest video game spotted the 3ft4in superstar as part of an entourage accompanying lightweight champion Islam Makhachev to the cage.
Hasbulla is friends with Makhachev and was part of his team at UFC 294 last weekend. He is also pals with MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov and several other Russian fighters.
EA Sports confirmed the video was legit by reposting it to their X - formerly known as Twitter - page.
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In September 2022, Hasbulla signed a five-year contract with the UFC.
It remains unclear what his role with MMA’s premier promotion is, but UFC CEO Dana White has refused to rule out lining up a fight for the talented youngster.
Hasbulla first found fame when he featured in a mock fight press conference.
He squared off with Abdu Rozik, who also has a form of dwarfism, and together they racked up millions of views on social media.
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Their rivalry reached boiling point in October 2021 when they came to blows at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi – but talk of them fighting ended when the Russian Dwarf Athletic Association branded the match-up 'unethical'.
Last week, Rozik visited the talkSPRORT studio to show off his boxing skills on a cardboard cutout of Hasbulla and reignite their feud.
“Always ready to fight Hasbulla,” he said.
“I’m ready, always! I don’t like him.
“He’s like when people are not respectful. If he sees somebody, he punches him immediately. It’s not even, ‘Hi, how are you?’ If he sees you… he is coming and punching you.”
Hasbulla has yet to respond to his rival, and it appears the only way fans will get to see him fight is if EA SPORTS decide to make him a playable character on UFC 5.
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