TLDR
- Sean O’Malley proposed a bet where the loser must get the winner’s country flag tattooed
- O’Malley faces Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn next month
- Zahabi is on a seven-fight win streak with victories over Marlon Vera, Jose Aldo, and Pedro Munhoz
- O’Malley is coming off a win over Song Yadong after losing the title twice to Merab Dvalishvili
- The winner could face current champion Petr Yan for the bantamweight title next
Sources: bjpenn.com
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has proposed a unique bet to his upcoming opponent Aiemann Zahabi. O’Malley wants the loser of their fight to get the winner’s country flag tattooed on their body.
O’Malley posted the offer on social media platform X on Tuesday. “Loser gets the other’s flag tatted? [Aiemann],” O’Malley wrote.
Zahabi has not yet responded to the proposal. The two fighters are scheduled to meet at UFC Freedom 250, which will take place on the White House lawn next month.
Sean O’Malley and The MMA Guru reminisce about Sean’s White House press conference performance
“The Champ, the man now we’re not even getting asked questions at the press conference” pic.twitter.com/WvjLvXDIP4
— Bemo (@BemoMMA67) May 12, 2026
High Stakes Bantamweight Matchup
The fight between O’Malley and Zahabi carries serious title implications for the bantamweight division. Both fighters are positioned to potentially challenge for the championship with a victory.
Zahabi enters the fight riding a seven-fight win streak. His recent victories include wins over former champions and top contenders like Marlon Vera, Jose Aldo, and Pedro Munhoz.
O’Malley returned to the win column with a victory over Song Yadong at UFC 324. That win came after back-to-back title fight losses to Merab Dvalishvili.
The timing is good for both fighters to make a title run. Current champion Petr Yan recently won the belt from Dvalishvili, and the division needs to establish clear contenders.
With Dvalishvili’s return timeline uncertain following his title loss, the winner of O’Malley versus Zahabi could be next in line. The fight is considered one of the most intriguing matchups on the UFC Freedom 250 card.
Tattoo Bet Could Add Personal Stakes
The proposed tattoo bet would add a personal element to an already important fight. O’Malley has dozens of tattoos covering his body, making a Canadian flag addition less of a burden for him.
Zahabi’s tattoo situation is different, which could make the bet more meaningful. The Canadian fighter would face a bigger decision if he agrees to the wager.
A loss would mean permanently wearing the American flag on his body. For O’Malley, losing would mean adding the Canadian flag to his collection of ink.
The UFC Freedom 250 event represents a historic venue for mixed martial arts. The White House lawn has never hosted a UFC event before, making the card unique beyond just the fights themselves.
The card features other major fights including Ilia Topuria versus Justin Gaethje as the main event. An interim heavyweight title bout between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane is also scheduled.
O’Malley has held the UFC bantamweight championship before and is looking to work his way back to another title shot. His most recent win over Song Yadong helped rebuild momentum after losing the belt.
Zahabi is competing in the biggest fight of his career. Despite his seven-fight winning streak, he has not yet fought for a UFC championship.
The fight is expected to determine who gets the next opportunity to challenge Petr Yan for the bantamweight title. As of Tuesday evening, Zahabi had not publicly accepted or declined O’Malley’s tattoo bet proposal.
