Aiemann Zahabi

O'Malley patiently picked Zahabi apart through a first round in which the Canadian circled and threw leg kicks. Late in Round 2 he dropped Zahabi with a straight left, then floored him again with a right as he rose, prompting referee Jason Herzog's stoppage. The walk-off finish ended Zahabi's seven-fight win streak.

Key moments

• Round 1: Zahabi circled away behind leg kicks while O'Malley used range and counters.
• Late in Round 2 a thudding straight left dropped Zahabi.
• Seconds later O'Malley cracked him with a clean right to drop him again, forcing the stoppage at 4:02.
• The walk-off knockout snapped Zahabi's seven-fight UFC win streak.

Zahabi edged former title challenger Marlon 'Chito' Vera by split decision (two judges 29-28, one for Vera) in a closely contested bantamweight bout in Vancouver. Vera pressed forward and worked leg kicks, but Zahabi's sharper counters and a strong second round carried him to the nod and extended his streak to seven. Vera publicly claimed he was robbed.

Key moments

• Vera pressured early with leg kicks and a combination that briefly stunned Zahabi in round one
• Zahabi opened a cut over Vera's eyebrow with hooks and backed him to the cage in round two
• Round three was a back-and-forth firefight with both men trading to the final bell
• Scored 29-28, 29-28 Zahabi and 29-28 Vera for a split-decision win

In a featherweight catch-up fight at UFC 315 in Montreal, Zahabi survived a third-round knockdown to take a unanimous decision (29-28 x3) over the legendary José Aldo in a bloody back-and-forth. Aldo dropped him with a right hand and knee but punched himself out, and Zahabi rallied with close-range combinations and ground-and-pound elbows. The verdict drew controversy and Aldo announced his retirement afterward.

Key moments

• Fought at featherweight, above Zahabi's usual bantamweight class
• Aldo floored Zahabi with a right hand and knee early in round three
• Zahabi recovered, dragged Aldo down and landed elbows to swing momentum back
• Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28); Aldo retired after the loss

Zahabi outpointed veteran Pedro Munhoz by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) on the Edmonton prelims, behind an economical jab and airtight takedown defense. He out-landed Munhoz 95-82 in significant strikes and stuffed all six of Munhoz's takedown attempts. It was his fifth straight win and a push toward the rankings.

Key moments

• Controlled distance with the jab and front kicks to the body
• Stuffed all six of Munhoz's takedown attempts
• Out-landed Munhoz 95-82 in significant strikes
• Won 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 on the cards

As a heavy underdog (reported as much as 20-1 at one book), Zahabi handed the previously unbeaten Javid Basharat the first loss of his career by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) at the UFC Apex. He stayed composed against Basharat's in-fight taunting and adjusted to his range over three rounds. The win was a major upset on the prelims.

Key moments

• Entered as a roughly 9-to-1 betting underdog
• Handed Basharat the first loss of his pro career
• Stayed composed despite Basharat taunting him mid-fight
• Swept the cards 29-28, 29-28, 29-28

In a homecoming bout in Vancouver after an 11-month layoff, Zahabi flattened Aoriqileng with a looping left hook just over a minute into round one. He began a walk-off celebration, and referee John Cooper waved it off at 1:04 after a touch more follow-up. It was his third straight win and his most emphatic finish of the run.

Key moments

• First fight back after an 11-month layoff, in his home country
• Landed a looping left hook flush on the chin
• Started a walk-off celebration before the stoppage
• Officially waved off at 1:04 of round one

Zahabi outpointed The Ultimate Fighter 29 bantamweight winner Ricky Turcios by unanimous decision across three rounds at the UFC Apex. He controlled range with leg kicks and body kicks throughout, landing consistently enough to take all three rounds on the judges' cards. The win snapped a nearly three-year absence from the win column and started the streak that would carry him into title contention.

Key moments

• Opponent Turcios had won The Ultimate Fighter 29 bantamweight tournament in August 2021.
• Zahabi controlled range with consistent leg kicks and body work across all three rounds.
• All three judges scored it 29-28 for Zahabi — a clean sweep on the cards.
• First win since February 2021 and the start of a run that would reach seven straight.

Zahabi returned to the win column for the first time in nearly four years by finishing Drako Rodriguez with a vicious right hand at 3:05 of the first round. Rodriguez had weighed in 4.5 lbs over the bantamweight limit, making this a catchweight bout, and a portion of his purse was awarded to Zahabi. The knockout earned Zahabi a Performance of the Night bonus.

Key moments

• Rodriguez missed weight by 4.5 lbs; fight proceeded at catchweight with Rodriguez fined 30% of his purse.
• Zahabi landed a clean right hand bomb that dropped and finished Rodriguez at 3:05 of round one.
• Earned Performance of the Night bonus for the stoppage.
• First win since his UFC debut in February 2017 — a gap of nearly four years.

Zahabi dropped a tight unanimous decision to Vince Morales on the preliminary card at UFC Ottawa, with all three judges scoring it 29-28 for Morales. It was a competitive three-round bantamweight fight in front of a Canadian crowd, but Morales did enough with his output and pressure to take the nod. The loss would stand as Zahabi's last defeat for over six years.

Key moments

• Took place at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario — Zahabi's home country.
• All three judges scored it 29-28 for Morales in a closely contested decision.
• The defeat was Zahabi's second consecutive UFC loss, putting his promotional record at 1-2.
• This would prove to be Zahabi's last loss until Sean O'Malley stopped him in June 2026.

Zahabi suffered his first career defeat in brutal fashion at Madison Square Garden, knocked out by Ricardo Ramos with a spinning back elbow at 1:58 of round three. Ramos missed on an initial attempt then landed the follow-up flush, sending Zahabi limp to the canvas. The finish earned Ramos a Performance of the Night bonus and was ranked among the best knockouts of 2017.

Key moments

• UFC 217 at Madison Square Garden — the first UFC event held at MSG in over two decades.
• Ramos missed a first spinning elbow, immediately reset, and landed the second flush at 1:58 of round three.
• The KO earned Ramos Performance of the Night and was ranked one of the top knockouts of 2017.
• First professional loss of Zahabi's career after an unbeaten 7-0 start including his UFC debut win.

Zahabi made a successful UFC debut in Halifax, Nova Scotia, outpointing Reginaldo Vieira by unanimous decision over three rounds. Vieira — a winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil season 4 — provided a credible test, but Zahabi's jab-led game plan earned him the nod from all three judges. It was his first fight at the promotional level after going 6-0 with all first-round finishes on the Canadian regional circuit.

Key moments

• UFC debut at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in front of a Canadian crowd.
• Opponent Vieira was a former TUF: Brazil season 4 winner making his second UFC appearance.
• Zahabi's jab and counter-striking game controlled the distance over all three rounds.
• Capped a perfect 6-0 pre-UFC run — all by first-round stoppage — with his first UFC win.

Zahabi picked up a win by TKO when Oliveira suffered a knee injury and could not continue at 2:17 of round one. The result kept Zahabi's unbeaten record intact on the Canadian regional circuit as he worked toward a UFC contract.

Key moments

• Stoppage came via TKO due to knee injury at 2:17 of round one — not a strikes finish.
• Part of Zahabi's unbeaten regional run that went 6-0 before his UFC debut.
• Regional Canadian promotion Prestige FC provided the platform for this bout.

Zahabi stopped Jeremy Dichiara in just 18 seconds with a first-round TKO by punches, his fastest finish of his pre-UFC career. The result was consistent with his pattern of emphatic early stoppages on the Canadian regional circuit.

Key moments

• Finished in 18 seconds — his fastest career stoppage at that point.
• All of Zahabi's pre-UFC wins came in round one; this was the quickest.
• Part of a run of five consecutive first-round finishes before his UFC debut.

Zahabi knocked out Scott Farhat with a punch finish in round one, adding another first-round KO to his growing regional record. The win kept his perfect streak going on the Canadian regional scene.

Key moments

• Another first-round knockout, maintaining his 100% finishing rate at the time.
• All finishes in his pre-UFC career came in round one.
• Competed under the Rivals MMA promotion on the Canadian regional circuit.

Zahabi secured a first-round submission win over Wesley Bowman via ankle lock at 4:40, demonstrating ground-game versatility alongside his striking credentials. The win came in his fourth pro fight and kept his record perfect.

Key moments

• Submission by ankle lock — one of only two submission wins in Zahabi's career.
• Came late in round one at 4:40, showing patience on the ground.
• Demonstrated grappling ability to complement the striking game that would define his UFC career.

Zahabi secured his second pro win via rear-naked choke submission at 2:33 of round one, continuing to build his unbeaten record on the Canadian regional circuit. The early choke finish showed Zahabi's ability to finish on the ground before his striking became his primary tool.

Key moments

• Rear-naked choke at 2:33 of round one — his second career submission win.
• Second professional fight, keeping his record at 2-0.
• Canadian regional promotion Wednesday Night Fights provided early experience.

Zahabi made his professional MMA debut with a first-round TKO stoppage of Kyle Vivian at SLAMM 1, finishing with punches at 1:28. The debut established the pattern that would define his pre-UFC run: aggressive early pressure and a quick finish.

Key moments

• Professional MMA debut — won via TKO punches in 1:28 of round one.
• Competed under SLAMM 1, a Canadian regional promotion.
• The debut began a 6-0 run of first-round finishes before his UFC signing.