TLDR
- Sean O’Malley says UFC White House event doesn’t feel as big as his previous championship fights
- O’Malley will face Aiemann Zahabi in the third fight from the top at UFC White House on June 14
- Former champion compared the upcoming bout unfavorably to his title fights against Aljamain Sterling and Marlon Vera
- O’Malley joked about dropping from main event status to the third fight on the card
- The fighter is coming off a win over Song Yadong after losing the title to Merab Dvalishvili
Sources: BJPenn.com | MMA Fighting | ESPN MMA
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley says his upcoming fight at the UFC White House event doesn’t feel as special as his previous championship bouts. The fighter shared his feelings on his YouTube channel ahead of the historic card.
O’Malley is scheduled to face rising contender Aiemann Zahabi at UFC White House on June 14. The event will take place on Donald Trump’s birthday and features only six fights total.
The former champion will compete in the third fight from the top of the card, positioned below two title fights. This marks a change from his recent history of headlining major events.
Missing the Championship Spotlight
“I feel like the Aljo fight felt so big,” O’Malley said, referring to his title win over Aljamain Sterling. “The ‘Chito’ fight felt so big. The moment, being the main event, fighting for the title.”
O’Malley acknowledged the unique nature of the White House venue while comparing it to his championship experiences. “It feels like a big fight. I mean, it’s the f**king White House. There’s only six fights on the card. It’s such a big deal,” he explained.
However, he was honest about the difference in atmosphere. “It feels like a big fight, but the moment, I guess, doesn’t seem as big as a title fight. You know what I’m saying?” O’Malley added.
The fighter even joked about his declining position on fight cards. “I went from the f*cking main event, to the co-main event, now I’m on the third fight,” he said.
O’Malley’s Recent Career Path
O’Malley is coming off a win over Song Yadong. That victory helped separate him from back-to-back championship losses to Merab Dvalishvili.
The bantamweight previously held the UFC title and successfully defended it against Marlon “Chito” Vera. Both of those championship fights created the kind of excitement O’Malley now says he’s missing.
From the sounds of his comments, O’Malley is missing the five-round main event spotlight. The fighter built his career on high-profile matchups that placed him at the center of major UFC cards.
His opponent Aiemann Zahabi represents a step toward rebuilding that championship status. The fight at the White House offers a unique setting, even if O’Malley doesn’t feel the same energy.
The UFC White House card has generated discussion across the MMA community due to its unprecedented location. The event will be headlined by Ilia Topuria against Justin Gaethje for the lightweight championship.
Topuria recently became the first combat sports athlete to sign with luxury watch brand Richard Mille. O’Malley admitted feeling jealous of the partnership, noting that Topuria has knocked out three legends in a row including Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira.
The UFC White House event is scheduled for June 14, 2026, marking the first time the promotion has held an event at the presidential residence.
