Sean O'Malley defeats Aiemann Zahabi by KO/TKO
O'Malley vs Zahabi — Bantamweight · UFC Freedom 250
What happened
The result, the defining moments, and what the verdict means.
O'Malley got the better of the first-round striking exchanges, though neither fighter inflicted significant damage.
Zahabi focused on low kicks in round two while O'Malley began landing heavier shots.
A left hand sent Zahabi down, and O'Malley landed a right hand on his jaw when he rose to halt the action.
- Official UFC resultsUFC · UFC Freedom 250 results
Watch
The finish, right after the recap.
More videos · 4 clips
Signature moments
Signature moments
Who Called It?
How the analysts' picks held up once the cage door closed.
Analyst picks: Luke Thomas called it; The MMA Guru perfect call; We Want Picks called it; TheWeasle called it; Michael Bisping called it; Demetrious Johnson called it; The W.A.D.E. Concept called it; Bedtime MMA called it; HopperoMMA perfect call; Lucas Tracy called it; Danny “Brasco” Vithlani perfect call; AJ perfect call; Mike Finch called it; Travis Herrick MMA called it.
14 of 14 nailed it · 4 nailed the finish ★.
The experts above are a lens, not credentials we conferred — analyst, fighter or betting desk.
Full analyst picks ↓
Luke Thomas Analyst track record building — 4 resolved Luke Thomas: predicted O'Malley · to win. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Hit.
Thomas respects Zahabi as a legitimate ranked opponent, but still calls it O'Malley's fight to lose. His view is that Zahabi winning would be a major upset, while the more likely outcome is O'Malley doing what he's expected to do.
- Says Zahabi is a good, proven ranked fighter
- Still frames the matchup as O'Malley's fight to lose
- Would treat a Zahabi win as a major upset
“This is O'Malley's fight to lose. At least it should be.”
Track record builds as we verify their past calls.
The MMA Guru Analyst called 44 of 65 The MMA Guru: predicted O'Malley · KO/TKO. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Perfect call.
Zahabi ("Amy/Amian Zahabi") lacks the sudden power or grappling to threaten O'Malley ("Shaun Ali/Omali"), who will be too there-to-be-hit and get clipped for a vintage highlight KO in the first or second round.
Track record: winner called in 44 of 65 resolved picks, 16 a perfect call.
We Want Picks Betting desk called 55 of 87 We Want Picks: predicted O'Malley · to win. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Hit.
Sean is the far more accurate striker with more power and controls the range against a Zahabi who doesn't threaten takedowns or move forward.
Track record: winner called in 55 of 87 resolved picks.
TheWeasle Analyst called 34 of 48 TheWeasle: predicted O'Malley · Decision. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Hit.
O'Malley's striking is on a far higher level and Zahabi has seen nothing he can't handle, but Zahabi's toughness keeps him alive to a decision.
Track record: winner called in 34 of 48 resolved picks, 14 a perfect call.
Michael Bisping AnalystFighter called 12 of 20 Michael Bisping: predicted O'Malley · to win. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Hit.
O'Malley is taller with better boxing and a longer reach, and Bisping leans on the Chito Vera common opponent — what O'Malley did to Vera versus how close Zahabi's own fight with Vera was — while admitting MMA math doesn't really stack up.
- Taller, better boxing, longer reach
- Uses the Chito Vera common opponent as a loose read
“Sugar Sean O'Malley is probably going to beat Aiemann Zahabi.”
Track record: winner called in 12 of 20 resolved picks, 1 a perfect call.
Demetrious Johnson AnalystFighter called 9 of 15 Demetrious Johnson: predicted O'Malley · to win. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Hit.
DJ picks O'Malley, who he sees in a flow state with strong takedown defence that makes it hard for Zahabi to close the distance. Zahabi's only real path is to grapple O'Malley onto his back with a near-perfect game plan.
- O'Malley's flow state and takedown defence are the difference
- Zahabi's only path is grappling him onto his back
Track record: winner called in 9 of 15 resolved picks.
The W.A.D.E. Concept Analyst called 5 of 7 The W.A.D.E. Concept: predicted O'Malley · KO/TKO · R3. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Hit.
Wade leans on Zahabi getting hit nearly as often as he lands — a bad idea against O'Malley, who thrives once he finds his flow on a striking-heavy card. He cites coach Tim Welch calling it their best, healthiest camp, and frames it as O'Malley needing a statement.
- Zahabi's tiny margin between strikes landed and absorbed is the danger
- Coach Tim Welch: best camp they've had, fully healthy
- O'Malley needs a big-stage statement
Track record: winner called in 5 of 7 resolved picks, 1 a perfect call.
Bedtime MMA Analyst called 67 of 99 Bedtime MMA: predicted O'Malley · Decision. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Hit.
He thinks O'Malley styles on Zahabi with oblique kicks, body front-kicks, jab and straight punches against Zahabi's pressure-boxing. He credits Zahabi's kicks and toughness and a viable takedown threat, but expects O'Malley to defend, threaten guillotines and win clearly.
- Predicts a dominant 30-27, maybe 30-26 decision
- Expects O'Malley to drop Zahabi but not finish
- A Zahabi split-decision upset would be 'comedy gold'
Track record: winner called in 67 of 99 resolved picks, 28 a perfect call.
HopperoMMA Analyst called 41 of 65 HopperoMMA: predicted O'Malley · KO/TKO · R2. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Perfect call.
O'Malley has faced far better strikers and grapplers across his career than Zahabi, a 38-year-old who only barely beat Aldo and Vera. The host sees O'Malley as the most dynamic striker in the division and expects vintage form.
- High confidence — 'most winnable opponent O'Malley's had in years'
- MMA-math nod: O'Malley destroyed Vera, who pushed Zahabi close
- Predicts O'Malley's first finish since Almakdam
Track record: winner called in 41 of 65 resolved picks, 15 a perfect call.
Lucas Tracy Analyst called 21 of 32 Lucas Tracy: predicted O'Malley · KO/TKO · R1. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Hit. Note: An early read — filmed ~2 weeks out (1 Jun), before fight week.
Tracy notes Zahabi is a notorious slow starter coming off a razor-thin fight with Vera, while O'Malley is dangerous early and put on one of the best bantamweight striking performances ever against Vera. He expects O'Malley to walk Zahabi onto a punch early.
- Zahabi is a chronic slow starter
- O'Malley's only trouble is an early Zahabi takedown
- O'Malley also does his best work late
* An early read — filmed ~2 weeks out (1 Jun), before fight week.
Track record: winner called in 21 of 32 resolved picks, 8 a perfect call.
Danny “Brasco” Vithlani Betting desk track record building — 1 resolved Danny “Brasco” Vithlani: predicted O'Malley · KO/TKO. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Perfect call. Note: A betting analyst's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ / CBS HQ Spotlight panel.
The betting analyst likes a 'big time' O'Malley knockout: Zahabi at 38 is taking accumulating damage — knocked down in each of his last two fights — and runs into a sharp O'Malley at a bad time.
- Zahabi knocked down in each of his last two fights
- Damage accumulating at 38
- O'Malley is roughly a 2-to-1 favourite
“I like a big time O'Malley knockout.”
* A betting analyst's pick on the UFC on Paramount+ / CBS HQ Spotlight panel.
Track record builds as we verify their past calls.
AJ Betting deskAnalyst called 52 of 71 AJ: predicted O'Malley · KO/TKO. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Perfect call.
AJ sees O'Malley as the faster, superior boxer against a 38-year-old Zahabi whose boxing style and limited grappling threat leave him open to a vintage knockout.
Track record: winner called in 52 of 71 resolved picks, 25 a perfect call.
Mike Finch Betting deskAnalyst called 23 of 36 Mike Finch: predicted O'Malley · Decision. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Hit.
Mike agrees on O'Malley but leans away from AJ's knockout call, expecting O'Malley to touch Zahabi, move, avoid the return fire and pitch a shutout-style win.
Track record: winner called in 23 of 36 resolved picks, 9 a perfect call.
Travis Herrick MMA Analyst called 5 of 6 Travis Herrick MMA: predicted O'Malley · to win. Actual O'Malley · KO/TKO R2. Result: Hit.
Herrick thinks the matchup is built for O'Malley. He sees Zahabi as a decent ranked opponent but not nearly enough of a wrestler to neutralize O'Malley, and expects O'Malley to control the striking with range and precision.
- O'Malley's reach and striking are the core edges
- Zahabi is not enough of a wrestler to exploit O'Malley's known weakness
- Calls it high confidence and expects a clear O'Malley win
“I think he's going to beat Zahabi.”
Track record: winner called in 5 of 6 resolved picks.
Reactions
Fighters' own words, then peers, then analysts.
Sean O'Malley
O’Malley describes the finish as a clean read on Zahabi, saying he felt calm in the matchup, recognized the right-hand connection, and chose the walkoff salute.O’Malley describes the finish as a clean read on Zahabi, saying he felt calm in the matchup, recognized the right-hand connection, and chose the walkoff salute.
- Said he had a strong stylistic read on Zahabi before the fight.
- Explained that he trusted the right hand once it landed clean.
- Noted Zahabi’s leg kicks but felt his own length and speed controlled the dangerous exchanges.
Demetrious Johnson
Their pick: O'Malley to win · ✓ Hit Demetrious Johnson says O’Malley remained too quick, long and precise for Zahabi’s leg-kick game, turning the White House knockout into another memorable UFC moment.Demetrious Johnson says O’Malley remained too quick, long and precise for Zahabi’s leg-kick game, turning the White House knockout into another memorable UFC moment.
- Called O’Malley a sniper whose distance management forced the key exchanges.
- Questioned Zahabi’s focus on leg kicks instead of a heavier wrestling threat.
- Said the knockout leaves O’Malley in a strong position for another major bantamweight fight.
Archive Pre-fight material — kept for transparency.
- 5.98 4.47
- 59% 68%
- 3.40 4.11
- 60% 83%
- 68% 57%
- 19-3-0
- Record
- 14-2-0
- 3-2 last 5
- Recent formRecent formWin–loss record over the fighter’s last five bouts, newest first, as carried in their UFC/FightMetric career stats.
- 5-0 last 5
- Switch
- StanceStanceWhich side a fighter leads from — a striking term, not a religious one. Orthodox: right-handed, left foot and hand forward (the common default). Southpaw: the mirror image, right side forward (usually a left-hander). Switch: changes between the two during a fight.
- Orthodox
- 11:32
- Avg. fight timeAvg. timeAverage fight timeThe mean length of the fighter’s bouts (minutes:seconds) — a rough read on whether they tend to finish early or go the distance. From UFC/FightMetric.
- 12:07
- USA
- Nationality
- Canada
- The MMA Lab · Glendale, Arizona
- Team
- Tristar Gym · Montreal
Career stats per UFC.com; recent form is each fighter's last five bouts. Numbers reflect records coming into fight night. Bars compare each stat on a fixed scale; the “Edge” marker flags the leading corner where the gap is meaningful. The snapshot plots five career rates — output, striking defense, durability (strikes absorbed, inverted), takedown defense and finish rate — each normalised on its own scale.
Pre-fight analysis — how we saw it going in
Case for O'Malley
Length, speed and one of the most accurate, creative striking games at 135 lb. At his best, O'Malley picks opponents apart from range and drops them with a whip-fast right hand. He's a former champion with the highest ceiling in this fight, and a hungry, prove-the-doubters version of him after losing his belt is a dangerous one.
Case for Zahabi
Riding the best run of his career — a seven-fight win streak built on disciplined, well-schooled Tristar technique and steadily improving power. Zahabi is patient, defensively sound and rarely out of position, and he arrives with nothing to lose against a former champ. The longer he keeps it competitive, the more the pressure sits on O'Malley.
What We Were Watching For
- O'Malley is coming off two losses to Merab Dvalishvili — are the timing and the confidence still there?
- Zahabi's biggest test by a distance: does the moment, and O'Malley's speed, expose a gap in levels — or has he closed it?
- A range war — O'Malley's reach and footwork against Zahabi's composure in the pocket.
- Can Zahabi's seven-fight momentum carry against the sharpest striker he's shared a cage with?
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