Champ Bilal Hasan welcomes growing attention ahead of CFFC 139: 'I've always felt like there's a target on my back'
Undefeated flyweight champ hopes to showcase even more skills on Saturday in first title defense.
The past 12 months for Bilal Hasan were nothing short of spectacular. Three fights, three finishes, the CFFC flyweight title, and a whole lot of new fans around the globe. The 23-year-old flyweight champ recognizes what a special stretch it was but believes it's only the beginning.
"Man, it was a season," Hasan said. "Three fights in one year – I ideally want four, but three fights, three finishes, three highlights, I can't complain.
"Definitely want to start off this year with a bang, but last year I learned a lot. I started my pro career in 2022, and last year kind of was barely the beginning, and so we'll see what happens this year, but last year, definitely, definitely super happy with my performances, and I just look to continue that season into 2025."
Hasan (5-0 MMA, 5-0 CFFC) will start that new season on Saturday, when he puts his belt on the line against promotional newcomer Brian Hauser (3-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) in the main event of CFFC 139, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Philadelphia's 2300 Arena.
Ahead of the matchup, public focus has certainly centered on Hasan and where a victory might push him in his chase for a spot on the sport's highest stage, but the 23-year-old champion isn't looking past his opponent for even a moment. Hauser's own rise has been hampered by an extraordinary amount of fight cancellations that have left him without an appearance since 2022, and Hasan isn't minimizing the difficulty he presents.
"I think it's a great challenge for me," Hasan said. "I mean, Brian's a great fighter. He's a great wrestler. He's a great boxer, as well, and I think he presents a different type of challenge for me. My goal for the first part of my pro career is to fight as many different styles of fighter that I can so that when I get into the big leagues, I've had a taste of every bit of style, and so he presents a different type of challenge.
"Aesthetically, looking at his record, he hasn't fought – and I forgot how long, but he's had like six cancellations. But all of his fights in his pro career are all finishes. His only loss is a split decision. Even in his amateur career, as well, only a split decision, so he's a very, very tough opponent, and I've been training very, very hard for him."
All that said, Hasan has shown an incredible penchant for putting on spectacular fights, and he seems to be the total package, always cutting memorable promos on the mic, as well. It's his work both in and out of the cage that have seen him rise to the top of "The Short List" that CFFC brass compile to highlight athletes that seem most ready to make the jump to the UFC, Dana White's Contender Series, or other top international promotions.
That type of recognition brings with it added expectations, but Hasan said he's happy to take it all on, and he'll walk to the cage on Saturday night with the same energy he's had in his previous five CFFC trips, as well.
"It's just another fight to me," Hasan said. "I always feel like there's a target on my back. I feel like I'm the star of the CFFC division, you know?
"I'm talking all this smack. I'm very confident, but I also put on the performances as well, and so, yeah, definitely, I've always felt like there's a target on my back, and the more eyes and the more pressure that's on me, I think the better that I perform. I'm just welcoming all of it, man."
Hauser will certainly be hoping to seize the opportunity presented to him on Saturday night. A former collegiate wrestler who has been working diligently to round out his skillset, Hauser is confident it will be his time to shine. Unsurprisingly, Hasan has a different idea.
"I think you see another highlight," Hasan said. "I think stylistically, he's going to want to push the pace, and the thing about me, man, I'm so dynamic. I can fight going forward. I can fight going back, so I see Mr. Brian Hauser running into something and me finishing him in either the second or third round."
From there, the sky appears to be the limit. Young and clearly talented, Hasan is quickly developing a fanbase in his CFFC run that is building domestically, as well as abroad, thanks to his Indonesian heritage. He plans on making them all proud on Saturday and delivering another memorable moment for anybody watching.
"It's very, very surreal, man," Hasan said. "My first ever time in Malaysia, I get off the plane and a guy recognizes me, and he's actually Malaysian. He's like, 'Oh, my God, I saw your fight. You know, you're really big in Indonesia, in Malaysia,' and so just to even be recognized, you know, halfway across the world is absolutely surreal, man, and so I'm definitely very, very thankful for the support.
"I look to just continue to, of course, gain more supporters from my fights. I want my performances to speak for themself."