Fighting out of Quebec, Canada, Aiemann Zahabi is set for a mammoth UFC bout on the south lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 14 as part of the USA's 250th birthday celebrations.

Dubbed UFC Freedom 250, the event will feature seven matches, including one in which Zahabi will face Sean O'Malley of the U.S. in a bantamweight encounter. Traditionally known as Flag Day, June 14 will also be President Donald Trump's 80th birthday.

Zahabi's Rise in the Rankings

Zahabi (14-2-0) is currently ranked sixth among 135-pound contenders. The 38-year-old from Montreal has won seven straight after going 1-2-0 in his first three UFC outings. He has already taken down one former champion, winning a decision over UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo at UFC 315 last May in Montreal. The Brazilian retired for a second time after the loss.

O'Malley (19-3-0 with one no contest) is ranked third among bantamweights. The 31-year-old defeated fellow American Aljamain Sterling to win the crown at UFC 292 in August 2023 and defended the title against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March 2024 before losing back-to-back championship bouts to Georgia's Merab Dvalishvili.

From Accounting to MMA

Zahabi, the youngest of four brothers, started martial arts at five with karate. He was studying accounting at McGill, after taking commerce at CEGEP, before he took up MMA full time. Away from the gym, he owns a small brokerage firm managing a couple of trucks that usually transport fruit and vegetables.

Training and Support System

According to the CBC, Zahabi trains primarily out of the Tristar Gym in Montreal under the guidance of the Zahabi family. He is the younger brother of celebrated mixed martial arts trainer Firas Zahabi. Zahabi will have older brother Firas in his corner. Canadian Georges St-Pierre, who won two UFC titles with Firas as his trainer, was also in his corner for the Aldo bout.

Overcoming Adversity

Zahabi worked on his mental game after a KO loss to Brazil's Ricardo Ramos at UFC 217 in November 2017.

"The Ramos fight kind of took my confidence and my chin away a little bit," he said. "The fear was eating me up."

A book called "The Tools" set him back on the right path. The book contained the mantra: "I love the pain. The pain will set me free." Zahabi changed it to "I love the fear. The fear will set me free." He has gone 7-1-0 since.

The White House Event

The June 14 card, billed as UFC Freedom 250, will be held on the White House's South Lawn. President Donald Trump is a UFC fan and is no stranger to the MMA promotion's shows. UFC president Dana White is also a friend who Trump had introduce him at the 2024 Republican National Convention.

The main event at the White House is a lightweight title unification bout between Spanish champion Ilia Topuria and interim titleholder Justin Gaethje of the U.S.

Light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira of Brazil looks to add to his trophy case when he takes on No. 1 contender Ciryl Gane of France for the interim heavyweight crown.