Sean O’Malley is set to fight Aiemann Zahabi on the main card of UFC Freedom 250, with the bantamweight contenders meeting in a high-profile matchup on the White House lawn.
The bout pits O’Malley, ranked No. 3 in the bantamweight division, against No. 6–ranked Zahabi in a rare outdoor setting. To protect the fighters and the surface, the UFC has built a covered structure called the Claw over the cage to keep the Octagon dry.
O’Malley downplayed any concern about the open-air environment, pointing back to his early days in the sport. “As a young amateur, I fought outside,” he said. “I think I fought outside a few times, a long time ago, though. And it’s just a fight, you know? As long as the canvas isn’t slippery, it doesn’t matter whether it’s indoor or outdoor.”
He compared the unique stage to some of his previous unconventional showcases. “You know, when I fought in The Sphere, it was kind of a similar thing where it wasn’t a typical UFC fan base screaming, and it wasn’t as chaotic. I fought at the Apex where there’s, like, nobody in there. It’s different. But at the end of the day, it is what it is. I’d prefer a sold out, packed arena, screaming, loud. But this is special and unique, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
For O’Malley, the historic location doesn’t change his preparation. “Nothing really changes as far as, like, training camp and the weight cut and the fight week,” he said. “Nothing really different. You know, the location is really the only thing that’s different. Everything else stays the same.”
