Aiemann Zahabi has stated that he has not yet signed a contract for his scheduled bout at the UFC White House event, despite already being officially listed on the card against Sean O'Malley. Zahabi commented that while he hasn't signed the contract, UFC is good at keeping their word. The situation has raised eyebrows given that the bout is already publicly announced. The post humorously suggests that UFC may have backup options for O'Malley's opponent.
Aiemann Zahabi has revealed that he has not yet put pen to paper on a contract for his scheduled bantamweight matchup against Sean O'Malley at UFC White House, set for June 14, 2026 — despite already appearing on the official card.
Zahabi, ranked 14th in the bantamweight division, expressed confidence in the promotion's reliability, noting that while the contract remains unsigned, the UFC has a track record of honoring its commitments. The 38-year-old Canadian, training out of the renowned Tristar Gym, carries a professional record of 14-3 and brings a busy striking game to the cage, landing 4.54 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy. At five-foot-eight with a 68-inch reach, he is a sizeable underdog in physical terms against his prospective opponent.
O'Malley, known as "Suga," enters the bout as the fourth-ranked bantamweight and one of the division's most prominent names. The 31-year-old American holds a 20-3 record and is among the most accurate strikers in the weight class, landing 6.05 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 60 percent accuracy. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, the MMA Lab product also carries submission threats, averaging 0.2 attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Zahabi's unsigned status introduces uncertainty into a bout that has already been publicly announced, which is unusual.
- A last-minute replacement scenario could reshape the bantamweight landscape ahead of the high-profile White House card.
- The striking styles of both fighters — Zahabi's volume versus O'Malley's precision and reach advantage — made this a compelling matchup on paper.
- O'Malley's opponent selection carries divisional weight given his ranking and visibility in the 135-pound picture.
Sunday, June 14, 2026
