Dana White says the June 14 matchup between Sean O’Malley and Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250 is a big chance — but not an automatic ticket to a bantamweight title fight.
Fight details
Sean O’Malley will face Aiemann Zahabi on June 14 at UFC Freedom 250. The event is set to take place on the White House lawn in Washington, D.C.
White pushes back on “title eliminator” label
Zahabi made headlines by calling the fight a title eliminator and saying the UFC had confirmed that to him. Dana White disagreed with that claim at his post-fight press conference following UFC Winnipeg on April 18.
“These guys are put in these positions with great opportunities. Let’s see what the fight looks like,” White said. “Let’s see how they perform. Just to throw out there, ‘Whoever wins is gonna get it,’ that’s not really what happens here. Perform, let’s see how you look, and then we’ll make that decision.”
Where the bantamweight title picture stands
The bantamweight division is crowded. O’Malley last held the title before losing it to Merab Dvalishvili at Noche UFC 306 in September 2024. A win over Zahabi would help O’Malley build momentum, but White made it clear the winner will still need to impress.
Merab Dvalishvili has said the UFC told him his next fight will be a trilogy with Petr Yan. The promotion has also moved through other contenders: the source says Petr Yan ended Dvalishvili’s championship reign in December 2025.
Umar Nurmagomedov is also pushing for a spot. He has beaten Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo in his recent run and is positioning himself as a contender.
Quick facts and recent notes
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Sean O’Malley | Lost bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili at Noche UFC 306 (Sept 2024) |
| Aiemann Zahabi | Called the June 14 matchup a title eliminator |
| Merab Dvalishvili | Lost bantamweight title to Petr Yan in Dec 2025; says UFC assured a Yan trilogy next |
| Umar Nurmagomedov | Defeated Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo in his recent run |
UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 will be an unusual and high-profile card on the White House lawn. Whether the O’Malley–Zahabi winner moves straight toward a title shot will depend on how they perform and how the division shifts this summer.
