Bringing an undefeated record to CFFC 129, Bilal Hasan added another clip to his highlight reel. But a second-round spinning wheel kick knockout of Jacob Romano was only the beginning, as he hit a picture-perfect moonwalk before landing a backflip to seal an emphatic victory.
While the moonwalk was not rehearsed, Michael Jackson’s influence has long been a part of Hasan’s upbringing.
“Michael Jackson was an inspiration of mine growing up, so I just tapped back into my inner Michael Jackson,” Hasan said.
Developing story... If Bilal Hasan doesn't walk out to a Prince song he faces a 1 fight FIGHT PASS social media ban.
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 10, 2024
Will follow up momentarily.#CFFC129 pic.twitter.com/BIGCMyOiFG
CFFC 129 was not the first instance of Michael Jackson’s influence on Hasan, as Jackson’s Billie Jean was Hasan’s walkout song three times running.
Hasan’s first fight using Billie Jean as a walkout song did not go as planned, ending in a no contest due to an accidental below the belt kick.
“I walk out to Billie Jean and I thought, ‘all right, this is f*****g awesome,’” Hasan explained. “I go out there and seven seconds in I kick the dude right in the d***. If that isn’t a sign from God that Michael Jackson shouldn’t be my walkout song, then so be it.”
Did Bilal Hasan give birth to a new nickname for @TJDeSantis?!
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 10, 2024
We’ll see if it sticks!#cffc132 pic.twitter.com/lokbwusVz9
As most fighters are superstitious about things like walkout songs and routines, it would be easy for Hasan to have turned away from Jackson’s most popular song.
“Probably two months after, I fought on CFFC with Orlando [Ortega] and I thought, “I’m going to redeem myself and walk out to Billie Jean again,’” Hasan said. “So I go out there and finish Orlando in the first round and that’s the story. I’m going to keep walking out to Michael Jackson. I walked out to Billie Jean twice and they were both finishes right after that.”
It’s a safe bet that a love for Michael Jackson, or any artist, stems from childhood. Hasan continues to carry his childhood idol with him every time he steps into the cage.
BILAL MFIN HASAN!!!
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 10, 2024
Walkout to whatever song you want, kid!!!!!#CFFC129 pic.twitter.com/db5dKSzkAt
“I used to be so obsessed with Michael Jackson, me and my sister. There’s a bunch of videos on YouTube, actually,” Hasan explained. “We would put up a bunch of tables in our living room and we would perform all of Michael Jackson’s songs on an album to my parents. I was already singing and dancing back then; I was so obsessed with him. I’d probably moonwalk every day.”
Bilal Hasan will look to advance his undefeated record at CFFC 132, where he will be taking on Shamel Findley in a matchup of two of the most exciting flyweights on the regional scene.
Will we see another Bilal Hasan moonwalk? Watch all the action LIVE on UFC Fight Pass!
