UFC Freedom 250: Sean O’Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi Preview & Prediction
Sean O'Malley meets Aiemann Zahabi in a high stakes bantamweight tilt that could well decide the next title challenger at 135 pounds.
Sean O’Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi facts
What time are Sean O’Malley and Aiemann Zahabi expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Freedom 250? White House, Washington, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Freedom 250? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Freedom 250
What TV channel is UFC Freedom 250 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Freedom 250? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Freedom 250 card
Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje (Lightweight)
Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane (Heavyweight)
Sean O'Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi (Bantamweight)
Josh Hokit vs Derrick Lewis (Heavyweight)
Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler (Lightweight)
Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus (Middleweight)
Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia (Featherweight)
Sean O’Malley: Can the former bantamweight kingpin secure a rematch against Petr Yan?
Arguably the most successful Contender Series graduate in UFC history, former bantamweight champion, a win for Sean O'Malley (19-3, 1 NC) on Saturday night could well set up a rematch against current 135 pound kingpin, Petr Yan, particularly considering that "Suga" holds a win over the Russian from their first encounter back in 2022. One of the sharpest and most dynamic strikers that the bantamweight division has ever seen, O'Malley is a sniper on the feet, leveraging his lanky frame and superb footwork to land spiteful shots at range. His reputation took somewhat of a hit following two decisive losses to Merab Dvalishvili that exposed the grappling deficiencies in his game, but he's subsequently rebounded with a hard fought win over Song Yadong.
Aiemann Zahabi: The Canadian veteran looks to punch his ticket to an unlikely title shot
Currently riding a seven fight win streak after beginning his UFC career at just 1-2, Aiemann Zahabi (14-2) has quietly forged himself into one of the more unlikely contenders at 135 pounds. The younger brother of renowned MMA mind, Firas Zahabi, the Canadian compensates for his lack of finishing ability with an extremely well-rounded skillset, leaning on his grit and determination to outdog fighters who possess an athletic edge over him. However, while the Canadian's resume looks more impressive with every subsequent fight, it's worth noting that many of his more notable victories have come over fighters in the twilight of their careers. Zahabi's best wins are over Jose Aldo, Marlon Vera, and Pedro Munhoz; Aldo and Munhoz are no longer on the roster, while "Chito" is 1-4 across his last five fights.
Sean O’Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi prediction
Considering he's not exactly the biggest athletic powerhouse at 135 pounds, Zahabi's rise through the rankings at bantamweight is a testament to his toughness, cardio, and superb fight IQ. With that being said, this match up looks tailor made for O'Malley to style on him.
Zahabi is a solid wrestler and could make this interesting if he's able to ground O'Malley in the early goings to negate his early threat; outside of his first fight against Merab Dvalishvili, the American has struggled to regain his footing if his opponents are able to drag the action to the mat. However, given Zahabi's tendency to get hurt in the preliminary stages of his fights, it's hard to see an outcome that doesn't favour a sniper like "Suga."
The Canadian is a notoriously slow starter and has historically taken a lot of damage at the beginning of his fights, surviving an early onslaught before eventually building into the contest and taking over. However, whether he can even get that far against O'Malley is another question, considering the power coming back in his direction. Moreover, "Suga" has proven capable of maintaining his accuracy and output even if he doesn't score the early KO, either winning a decision or finding a finish in the later rounds.
O'Malley either lands a KO blow early or pieces Zahabi up for the majority of three rounds en route to a late stoppage.
Prediction: Sean O'Malley to win by TKO
