The rise of HASBULLA! How has a 3ft Russian become an internet star?

The baffling rise of… HASBULLA! The incredible story of the internet’s littlest biggest star – the 3ft Russian dubbed a ‘smelly little inbred’ by Conor McGregor who punched 7ft 1in Shaquille O’Neal in the face

• Standing at 3ft 3in, the larger-than-life character has taken the internet by storm
• Hasbulla, 20, has a staggering 9 million followers across social media platforms

Pelé, Madonna, Drake, Cher: there are few stars so iconic that they never need to go by more than a single name. Hasbulla is one of the latest to join these ranks, becoming one of social media’s biggest personalities.

The 3ft 3in larger-than-life character has taken the internet by storm. From playful bouts with Shaquille O’Neal and Mike Tyson, to multi-year UFC contracts and international tours, the Russian has built a cult following across the internet like few others.

The 20-year-old – who has a Growth Hormone deficiency, or ‘dwarfism’ – has never thrown a competitive elbow despite his UFC stardom. Instead, he has become a magnate for other stars who flock to him, desperate like everyone else to meet and snap a photo with the little man.

Bust-ups with the likes of Conor McGregor after ‘The Notorious’ called him a ‘smelly little inbred’ have also thrown him further into the limelight. This has left many questioning if his profile is simply being used by those who have an infantilisation with his height.

With a staggering 9 million followers on Instagram, even if you haven’t heard of the him, you will have almost certainly come across one of his videos online.

Hasbulla, pictured standing in front of a Bugatti, has taken the internet by storm with over 9 million social media followers

Hasbulla poses for a picture with UFC fighters Islam Makhachev (second left) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (second right) at a UFC event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, October 22, 2022

Hasbulla, who stands at 3ft 3in tall, is seen holding a golden WWE belt over his chest

Hasbulla Magomedovich Magomedov hails from Makhachkala in the republic of Dagestan in Russia’s North Caucasus on the coast of the Caspian Sea. The son of a plumber, Hasbulla – like many Dagestanis – is a Muslim.

He was born with a genetic growth hormone deficiency, or ‘Dwarfism’. The genetic disorder occurs when there are insufficient amounts of growth hormone in the body.

But the young star has said doctors have never given him a definitive diagnosis for the condition which gives him a short stature and child-like features.

Due to all of this, Hasbulla stands at a little over 3 feet 3 inches tall (just over 1m), just short of the average height for an adult with dwarfism at 4ft.

Hasbulla has not let his physical impairments get in the way though, and has instead capitalised on his disadvantages to launch his skyrocketing career.

The social media star initially went viral in 2020 after sharing videos from his escapades around his hometown of Dagestan, where he still lives. From shooting guns, pranks, driving supercars, and getting into fights with people way over his size, Hasbulla has documented adventures for the world to see.

Despite breaking out into stardom in the West, and launching international meet-and-greet tours, Hasbulla does not speak English.

He told The New York Times, through an interpreter, that he makes videos for his followers because he wants to ‘make them happy and smile’. 

Hasbulla has formed a close relationship with a number of the competition’s biggest names like UFC titan Khabib Nurmagomedov

Hasbulla has built himself something of a glamourous life. He is pictured standing on the steps to a private jet

Hazbulla Magomedovich Magomedov, 20, hold a shot gun in his hands with a balaclava covering his face

Hasbulla shot to fame in late 2020 when he began posting videos on Instagram and TikTok of himself performing daring stunts and pranks. He is pictured at UFC 267 at the Etihad Arena, October 30, 2021 in Abu Dhabi

Hasbulla was born with Growth Hormone Deficiency, a condition known as dwarfism, causing him to have an abnormally short stature with normal body proportions. He is pictured sitting in a car

The Russian signed a five-year contract with the UFC in October. He is pictured with Dana White, UFC president

The social media star has formed a close relationship with UFC fighters such as Khabib Nurmagomedov

Hasbulla’s profile largely stems from his relationship with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

While never stepping into the Octagon professionally, or even throwing a punch as a pro, the Russian signed a five-year contract with the UFC in October.

While there had been rumours that president Dana White has wished to orchestrate a bout between Hasbulla and another internet personality Abdu Rozik – who also has a similar hormone deficiency and stands at a similar height – the fight never came to fruition.

Instead, the Dagestani star is understood to have signed a promotional deal with the fighting organisation to appear at numerous UFC events, helping attract other stars to the competitions.

He has a close relationship with a number of the competition’s biggest names. From UFC titan Khabib Nurmagomedov to his fellow countryman and current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Hasbulla has constantly been pictured at events with the fighters.

One of his most viral social media hits saw him reenact Khabib’s UFC 229 weigh-in.

Earlier this year, footage emerged of Hasbulla getting into a friendly grappling match with one of the sport’s most renowned managers, Ali Abdelaziz.

In the video, was be seen audaciously attempting to perform a submission on the manager. Abdelaziz represents the likes of Nurmagomedov, Kamaru Usman, and Justin Gaethje.

Hasbulla sits front row as he attends the UFC 280 event at Etihad Arena on October 22, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 

Hasbulla was born with a genetic growth hormone deficiency, or ‘Dwarfism’. The genetic disorder occurs when there are insufficient amounts of growth hormone in the body

Islam Makhachev of Russia poses for a portrait with his fellow countryman Hasbulla after winning the UFC lightweight championship during the UFC 280 event

While never stepping into the Octagon professionally, or even throwing punch as a pro, Hasbulla signed a five-year contract with the UFC in October

With a staggering 9 million followers on Instagram, even if you haven’t heard of Hasbulla, you will have almost certainly come across one of his videos online

Hasbulla’s profile largely stems form his relationship with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and his viral social media escapades

While never stepping into the Octagon professionally, or even throwing punch as a pro, Hasbulla signed a five-year contract with the UFC in October

Hasbulla himself has rarely addressed his short stature. He said he dislikes being called the Russian word for dwarf

The partnership came amid a bitter social media feud with Irish fighter Conor McGregor. Hasbulla threatened to ’cause problems’ for McGregor if the two ever came face-to-face.

McGregor – a pioneering UFC fighter who still has one of the biggest profiles in the game, despite being retired for some years now – had previously taken fire at Hasbulla, calling him a ‘smelly little inbred’.

‘I’d love to boot that little gimp Hasbulla over a goal post,’ McGregor said in a since deleted Tweet last year.

‘I don’t respect him as a fighter,’ Hasbulla said of ‘The Notorious’ on the Full Send podcast.

‘And if I meet him I will cause some problems for him. I don’t know yet [what I will do]. But, I will definitely do something.’

Hasbulla’s involvement in the UFC has still come under fire from critics. Little People of America, an organisation providing support for people with dwarfism and their families, has suggested Hasbulla is being used because people have an infantilisation with his height.

But Dana White told The New York Times: ‘This kid, because of his personality and because everybody likes him, has had opportunities that most people all over the world will never have.’

He added that Hasbulla ‘is a human being who lives his own life and makes his own choices’.

Hasbulla himself has rarely addressed his short stature. He said he dislikes being called the Russian word for dwarf.

‘My parents consider me as handicapped and the doctors as well. I think I’m healthy.’ he told Russian YouTuber Асхаб Тамаев in an interview.

TikTok sensation Hasbulla pretended to punch 7ft Shaquille O’Neal as they enjoyed a superyacht around Sydney Harbour over the weekend

In hilarious footage, Hasbulla is seen sneaking up to the former Lakers player before tapping him on the shoulder and pretending to knock him out with a mighty punch

Hasbulla was seen hitting Mike Tyson while wearing boxing gloves on the podcast before the former heavyweight boxer picked him up and pretended to bite his ear 

Hasbulla smiles as he is pictured driving. The social media star has some 9 million social media followers online

Many have questioned if Hasbulla’s profile is simply being used by those who have an infantilisation with his height

Yet despite his short stature, the Russian has shown he can pack a mean punch in some of his most watched clips.

In August 2022, Hasbulla was filmed pretending to knock out 7ft 1in basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal as the pair enjoyed time on a superyacht around Sydney Harbour.

The skit showed Hasbulla sneaking up to the former LA Lakers player before tapping him on the shoulder and pretending to knock him out with a mighty punch. 

Shaq then falls to the ground, going along with the gag, much to the amusement of fellow guests.

Another comical interaction saw one of UFC’s newest stars meet a legend of the fighting world.  

Appearing on Mike Tyson’s Hotboxing podcast in March earlier this year, Hasbulla showed the former heavyweight champion his skills.

With a large pair of black boxing gloves on his hands, the Russian hit Tyson’s hands as if hitting pads.

Tyson then picked up Hasbulla and appeared to nibble his ear – perhaps as a joke referencing his infamous chomp on Evander Holyfield back in 1997.

Hasbulla himself has rarely addressed his short stature. He said he dislikes being called the Russian word for dwarf

Despite his short stature, Hasbulla has shown he can pack a mean punch in some of his most watched clips

Along with several of his friends, Hasbulla was arrested for dangerous driving in his hometown Makhachkala earlier this month

Hasbulla told The Sydney Morning Herald in June 2022: ‘People are always complaining about things in life, but I try to enjoy every day and do the things I love’

Hasbulla has admitted he enjoys his new found fame but says it comes at a price

‘Life, on the one hand, has become better, and on the other, it has become more complex,’ Hasbulla said, addressing his newfound fame

Hasbulla has admitted he enjoys his newfound fame but says it comes at a price.

He told The Sydney Morning Herald in June 2022: ‘People are always complaining about things in life, but I try to enjoy every day and do the things I love. You really have to stay positive.’

‘Life, on the one hand, has become better, and on the other, it has become more complex,’ he added.

‘I think people can see I’ve worked hard to create a life for myself that I’m proud of, and I’m very grateful for my fans, and I support them too.’ 

Despite his profile, controversy has still surrounded the young social media star.

Along with several of his friends, Hasbulla was arrested for dangerous driving in his hometown Makhachkala earlier this month.

A car was filmed performing burnouts on the streets as Hasbulla and his friends celebrated wilding amid a wedding.

It was reported that Hasbulla himself was not driving, but was seen standing inside one car as multiple drivers blocked parts of the highway before performing doughnuts as they raced through traffic.

Hasbulla posted a video on social media to acknowledge the incident, but stressed he was not driving any of the cars.

‘We decided to hype it up a bit… this will not happen again, we apologise. We played around a bit and had to answer for it,’ he said.

‘It wasn’t my car and I wasn’t behind the wheel.’

Hasbulla is seen standing on the passenger seat in one car that took part in the wild celebrations

Hasbulla’s compatriots are seen performing stunts with their cars on a highway in Dagestan

Hasbulla also received criticism earlier this year after he shared a video online in which he is seen pulling his cat by the ear

Hasbulla himself was not driving in the incident in his home town, but was seen standing inside one car as multiple drivers blocked parts of the highway

Hasbulla, 20, has a Growth Hormone deficiency, or ‘dwarfism’. He stands at 3ft 3in tall

Hasbulla also received criticism earlier this year after he shared a video online in which he is seen pulling his cat by the ear.

Animal rights supporters hit out at Hasbulla and said he was abusing the animal, but Hasbulla insisted he had done nothing wrong. He declared he was disciplining the cat for bad behaviour and did not act too aggressively.

‘Those brothers who think that I was beating the cat, pulled the ear, this and that… I pulled the ear gently,’ he said in a social media video.

‘I know that people are waiting for the moment, if I write something wrong, to just attack me like this.

‘Like, ”you do this, you do that”. She was misbehaving and I just pulled the ear and that’s it.

‘I love my cat more than you. If I didn’t love the cat, I wouldn’t have it at home. My most lovely animal is a cat.

‘And when she disobeyed, I scolded her a little. And you are attacking me for nothing.’

Despite the Dagestani’s antics, he continues to remain loved by his fans. His team’s aim now is to turn his fame into a brand and, ultimately, money. They’ve launched a Hasbulla NFT, are venturing into international tours, and have mobile games in the works. The Russian’s next venture will be as a playable character in the next UFC video game.

But Hasbulla is also insistent that he wants to continue enjoying a normal life despite his increased attention.

‘I just like to do my thing,’ Hasbulla told The Sydney Morning Herald. ‘On a normal day, I like to walk in the streets with my friends and socialise with people. I like driving my cars, having fun and always working hard.’ 

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