AT A GLANCE

• 45 seconds  time it took Bilal Hasan to finish Mridul Saikia by TKO
• 9-0  Hasan's undefeated professional MMA record
• 2nd  Hasan is only the second Indonesian-blood fighter to sign with the UFC, after Jeka Saragih in 2023
• August 29, 2026  date of his UFC debut in Shanghai
  
  

Herb Dean didn't even get a chance to think about it. Forty-five seconds into a fight that was supposed to define his career, Bilal Hasan had already ended it.

That's the whole story of how Hasan, a flyweight fighting under the nickname "The Indo Ninja," secured his UFC contract. On August 12, 2026, at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Hasan dropped India's Mridul Saikia with a short right overhand, then closed the show with ground strikes before the referee stepped in. The stoppage came at  Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) Season 10.

Credit : Bilal Hasan CFFC Champion

Who is Bilal Hasan?

He's a 25-year-old flyweight born on July 16, 2001, in Oahu, Hawaii, to Indonesian heritage. Before turning pro, he won the PAN-American Taekwondo Junior Championships in 2017. He made his professional MMA debut in December 2022, and by 2024 he'd claimed the Cage Fury Fighting Championship (CFFC) flyweight title. He trains out of Charlie's Combat Club under coach Charles Pearson  the same gym associated with former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson. 

Why Is This Fight Such a Big Deal for Indonesia?
Hasan is only the second fighter with Indonesian blood to ever earn a UFC contract. The first was Jeka Saragih, who signed in February 2023 after winning the Road to UFC tournament. Hasan follows that same path, but through a different door  Dana White's Contender Series, Season 10, Week 1.

For a country with more MMA fans than active UFC roster spots, that matters. Indonesian social pages lit up within hours  Instagram account @oppal_id's recap post alone pulled in nearly 1,900 likes and dozens of shares, framing the win as a national moment tied to Indonesia's Independence Day celebrations. 

What Did Dana White Say About Him ?
Dana White didn't hold back after the fight, telling Hasan, "You know, he came in with tremendous hype. He really proved that," before adding that Hasan lived up to being the biggest betting favorite in DWCS history. On camera for UFC Indonesia, White went further:

"I'm very impressed with you. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. And yeah, I can't wait to see your first fight in the UFC. Welcome." Dana White, UFC President and CEO.

Hasan's own reaction was just as memorable. He moonwalked across the cage after the finish, then thanked commentator Laura Sanko and, in his words, "Daddy Dana" for the opportunity. 

When and Where Is His UFC Debut ?
Hasan won't be waiting long. He's booked to fight Nilson Rojas, another undefeated prospect at 9-0, at UFC Shanghai on August 29, 2026, held at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium in China. The card is headlined by a bantamweight clash between Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong. It's a fast turnaround  just 17 days between earning his contract and stepping into the Octagon for real  and it puts Hasan in front of one of the UFC's fastest-growing fan markets in Asia.

For Indonesian fans, the timing lines up almost too well: Hasan's contract news broke right around the country's 81st Independence Day, a coincidence that Indonesian media outlets have leaned into hard.