{"id":227295,"date":"2025-10-20T16:45:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T16:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/227295\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T16:45:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T16:45:09","slug":"sean-omalley-responds-after-aiemann-zahabi-calls-him-out-following-ufc-vancouver-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/227295\/","title":{"rendered":"Sean O’Malley Responds After Aiemann Zahabi Calls Him Out Following UFC Vancouver Win"},"content":{"rendered":"

After an impressive victory at UFC Fight Night 262, Aiemann Zahabi is already setting his sights on a new challenge<\/a>. The 37-year-old bantamweight contender didn\u2019t waste time celebrating in the cage, immediately calling out former champion Sean O\u2019Malley. Zahabi, who edged out Marlon Vera in a close split decision on the main card, used his microphone moment to make his intentions clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want Sean O\u2019Malley next, baby,\u201d Zahabi yelled. \u201cIt\u2019s me and the \u2018Suga\u2019 show.\u201d<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take long for O\u2019Malley to respond. While he didn\u2019t confirm the fight outright, a video post suggested he was aware and listening to Zahabi\u2019s challenge.<\/p>\n

Reaction to Aiemann Zahabi calling me out pic.twitter.com\/EMvWM3Rcvq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sean O\u2019Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) October 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good,\u201d Zahabi commented on O\u2019Malley\u2019s reaction during the post-fight media session at UFC Vancouver. \u201cIt seems like we\u2019re setting it up. If he didn\u2019t want it, he wouldn\u2019t have made a video.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zahabi Eyes a Top Contender Bout<\/p>\n

Zahabi is currently on a seven-fight winning streak, with victories over notable names like Vera, former champion Jose Aldo, and Pedro Munhoz. He believes a matchup with O\u2019Malley is the perfect next step for his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m confident in any matchup. I\u2019m in the top 10 now,\u201d Zahabi explained. \u201cIf I\u2019m not willing to fight anybody in the top 10, what am I doing here? I want to fight them all, and he\u2019s the No. 1. With the way things are going with Merab, he\u2019s clearing out the division. Not to sound negative \u2013 Sean O\u2019Malley is a great fighter and all that, but he fought Merab twice, so I don\u2019t think he\u2019s up next for the belt. I feel like it\u2019s Umar or Mario Bautista, Petr Yan \u2013 there are some guys that will get the title fight before Sean O\u2019Malley because he lost to Merab two times, and I don\u2019t mean that in a disrespectful way. I feel like I have the opportunity to fight someone that\u2019s No. 1, so I want to take it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Few fighters thrive at 37 in MMA, but Zahabi is proving age is just a number. He\u2019s riding the best stretch of his career, and the win over Vera only adds to his momentum.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like a million bucks,\u201d Zahabi said. \u201cI feel like I lived up to my words. I said I would leave it all out there, and at this level, that\u2019s what it takes every time. I\u2019m starving and I want to keep going. I want what these guys have. I feel like I showed to the fans tonight that I wasn\u2019t going to go down easy. Man, I\u2019m hard to kill.\u201d<\/p>\n

O\u2019Malley has not competed since his submission loss to Dvalishvili in their June rematch. There has been talk of a potential clash with Song Yadong in December, but the \u201cSuga\u201d show recently stated he has not had any conversations with UFC officials about his upcoming fight.<\/p>\n

Published on October 20, 2025 at 12:30 pm<\/p>\n

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