Aiemann Zahabi is targeting a bantamweight title shot as he prepares to face former champion Sean O’Malley in a featured bout at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C.
Zahabi enters the fight ranked No. 6 at bantamweight and riding a seven-fight win streak. The winner of Zahabi vs. O’Malley is being viewed as a potential next title challenger for the bantamweight belt at an event staged to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
Zahabi believes the manner of his performance will be crucial. “The thing about the UFC is, it is very merit-based in a lot of ways, and it’s not only about winning the fight, but it is winning the fight in impressive ways,” he said.
The Canadian contender has leaned heavily on his striking in recent outings, including full three-round stand-up battles with Pedro Munhoz, Jose Aldo, and Marlon Vera, with Aldo and Vera both dropping him in their fights. “I feel like one of the reasons why Hunter [Campbell] called me to fight Sean O’Malley is because I didn’t shoot on Pedro Munhoz — I struck with him for 15 minutes. I struck with Jose Aldo for 15 minutes, and I struck with Marlon Vera for 15 minutes,” Zahabi said.
“I beat these big names in the right way — the way the UFC likes to see it happen, and I feel like if I do it again with Sean O’Malley, I can get the title fight,” he added. “But if I go out there and make it a boring fight, they are going to skip right over me.”
