Bilal Hasan confident ahead of CFFC 143 title defense: 'I think I'm going to put on another clinic'
At just 23, undefeated champ not in rush to UFC but aims to show out once again at Friday's event in North Dakota and live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
Undefeated CFFC flyweight champion Bilal Hasan is arguably the most talked about prospect on the promotion's roster right now, and at just 23 years old, he's quickly building some serious career momentum.
Claiming the belt this past September, Hasan then registered a successful defense of his title in February. Now just four months later, he is putting his strap up for grabs in the main event of CFFC 143. While it's been a potentially grueling schedule, it's one Hasan welcomes with open arms.
"I didn't even realize that it was that quick of a turnaround, but this is something that I'm so used to, man," Hasan said. "My amateur career, I did six fights in a year-and-a-half, so I'm just grateful to be able to be in this position and fight again, and I want to keep the season going, man. I want to fight like every two to three months, if possible."
CFFC execs certainly like the sound of that, given the type of highlight-reel wins Hasan seems to provide every time he steps in the cage. Most recently, it was a dominant performance in his first title defense, outclassing a talented Brian Hauser at CFFC 139 and finishing the fight in the second round with a vicious shot to the body.
The Charlie's Combat Club fighter said he feels he's getting better every time he competes, and he knows that's exactly what he needs as he works his way towards the UFC.
"That was probably the most comfortable and calm I've felt in the cage," Hasan said. "Especially right now in my career, everything's a learning process for the big show, so yeah, I was really happy with that performance, and with this performance coming up, I hope to just showcase more of my skillset and just gain more experience in the cage."
Hasan (6-0 MMA, 6-0 CFFC) now faces American Top Team's Jason Eastman (8-4 MMA, 1-1 CFFC) in the featured bout of CFFC 143, which streams live this Friday on UFC FIGHT PASS from North Dakota's 4 Bears Casino & Lodge.
Eastman boasts 11 years as a professional fighter, a career built from a wrestling base, and Hasan said he's been focusing on the areas necessary for him to be victorious once again.
"It's no secret, my striking is where I excel, and so people are definitely going to try to take me into deep waters and want to wrestle me at the end of the day, but I've learned to enjoy learning to wrestle," Hasan said. "That's honestly one thing I hope to showcase in this next matchup, and that's been a big, big part of this camp is a lot of wrestling and a lot of strength and conditioning.
"I'm still young, so I'm still also trying to develop these grown-man muscles, man."
At such a young age, Hasan is aware that time is certainly on his side. That said, the talent he's displayed in his first six career contests is undeniable, and it's got many observers excited to see "The Indoninja" competing at the sport's highest level.
Hasan believes he's capable of doing exactly that right now but also knows continuing to prepare himself for that moment could ultimately prove very beneficial to his longterm success.
"I'm super excited for this matchup," Hasan said. "He's a veteran. For right now, in my career, it's just experience. Like, it'd be awesome to get a first-round knockout, but I want to experience as much as I can in the cage, and so I won't be upset if it's a first-round knockout, but I'm preparing myself for the big leagues.
"He's a lot older. He's got more experience, but I just believe now is my time, man. I think his time's passed, and it's just my time, and I think I'm going to showcase that there's levels to this, and I think I'm going to put on another clinic, that's for sure."
Time will tell how much longer the young champion will be featured in the CFFC cage, but Hasan knows any stumbling along the way can put that talk to rest in a hurry. Still, he's got his eyes on the same prize he's been chasing since his promotional debut.
Bottom line, Hasan has proven himself to be must-watch TV, and he insists that won't change on Friday.
"Definitely tune in," Hasan said. "It's going to be a performance, man, from start to finish, so don't let your eyes come off the screen, that's for sure."
