Sean O'Malley KO's Aiemann Zahabi, calls out Petr Yan

Former bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley secured a second-round knockout victory over Aiemann Zahabi at the UFC Freedom 250 event on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the White House. The win marked O'Malley's second consecutive victory this year, but it was his post-fight callout of current champion Petr Yan that ignited a public dispute over matchmaking and fighter pay.

O'Malley, who ended Zahabi's seven-fight win streak with a powerful left hook and follow-up right hand, immediately stated his desire for a title rematch with Yan. He told interviewer Joe Rogan that Yan should have been his opponent that night. The champion, however, responded swiftly with a sharp accusation against the UFC. Yan claimed on his Instagram Stories that he had already agreed to defend his title against O'Malley at the event, but the promotion opted for a different matchup.

"The UFC were afraid for you!" Yan wrote. "They needed to be sure that you would win in the White House! I gave my consent! That's why they gave you someone you can at least handle!" O'Malley appeared to corroborate part of this account in a separate interview, stating he initially asked for the Yan fight but was told the champion was...