Sean O’Malley backed up his prediction in spectacular fashion, stopping Aiemann Zahabi with a highlight-reel knockout at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn.
The former UFC bantamweight champion promised a finish ahead of fight night, and he delivered exactly that with a dominant performance that reaffirmed his status as one of the division’s top contenders.
In the co-main card clash, O’Malley controlled the action from the opening bell. Using his reach advantage and sharp striking, he kept Zahabi on the back foot while patiently looking for the finishing shot.
That moment arrived in the second round. After methodically breaking down his opponent, O’Malley landed a clean straight left that dropped Zahabi to the canvas. As the Canadian attempted to get back to his feet, “Suga” followed up with a crushing right hand that sent him crashing down once again. Referee Jason Herzog immediately stepped in to wave off the contest at 4:02 of Round 2.
In trademark fashion, O’Malley turned away before the official stoppage and saluted the military members in attendance as the crowd erupted.
“It’s hard to put into words,” O’Malley said after the victory. “Manifestation is a real thing. I’ve seen this before. That was the plan. I said it, it’s out there. That was sexy.”
The fight showcased vintage O’Malley. Throughout the opening round, he pressured Zahabi with long jabs and sharp counters while forcing the Canadian to work from the outside. Zahabi found some success with inside leg kicks, but he struggled to consistently close the distance against the former champion.
Round two followed a similar pattern. Zahabi continued attacking the legs and briefly disrupted O’Malley’s rhythm, forcing him to switch stances. However, O’Malley quickly adjusted and regained control before finding the opening that ended the fight.
The knockout marked O’Malley’s second consecutive victory since suffering back-to-back defeats to Merab Dvalishvili. After bouncing back with a win over Song Yadong, he now adds Zahabi to his list of recent victories and has firmly reinserted himself into the bantamweight title conversation.
Following the win, O’Malley wasted no time calling out the man he wants next, current UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan.
“Petr Yan! It should’ve been him here tonight,” O’Malley said during his post-fight interview. “I don’t know why he didn’t show up, but that’s what I want next.Whether they do Merab and Petr, I want Petr next.”
With the emphatic finish over Zahabi, O’Malley has made his intentions clear. Whether the UFC grants him a title shot or a rematch with Yan, Sunday’s performance proved that “Suga” remains one of the biggest threats at 135 pounds.
