Aiemann Zahabi recently shared his thoughts with N3on, expressing his belief that Sean O’Malley was not truthful when he stated he doesn’t train wrestling.
The discussion arose when N3on noticed O’Malley’s unblemished ears, an unusual trait for a fighter accustomed to grappling. O’Malley explained that his normal ear shape was due to his lack of wrestling training, attributing it to a preference for striking.
“Do I look like I know how to wrestle? You get that from wrestling. I don’t wrestle. Not me. Never wrestled a day in my life. I just strike baby. [When I get taken down during fights,] I lay there and get beaten up until the end of the round. I have good ears.”
Despite O’Malley’s assertion, Zahabi remains unconvinced. He points to O’Malley’s performance against Petr Yan, where “Suga” successfully executed a takedown. Zahabi finds it difficult to believe this was possible without any wrestling background, especially considering the difficulties other elite wrestlers like Merab Dvalishvili have had in taking O’Malley down.
Zahabi stated to N3on, “There’s no way [O’Malley does not train his wrestling]. He took down Petr Yan… I think he’s joking with you.”
With Zahabi set to face O’Malley at UFC Freedom 250, the Canadian fighter anticipates that O’Malley will incorporate wrestling into their fight. However, Zahabi expressed a personal preference for a striking-focused bout.
“I’m getting ready to defend the wrestling that he’s gonna bring… It’s not a card I need to use, and if I don’t have to, I won’t use it. I want to stand with him.”
Aiemann Zahabi Explains Why He Believes Sean O’Malley Lied to N3on
Aiemann Zahabi, in a recent conversation with N3on, stated his conviction that Sean O’Malley misled the American streamer regarding his wrestling training.
The topic surfaced when N3on observed O’Malley’s lack of cauliflower ears, a common characteristic among wrestlers. O’Malley attributed this to his abstinence from wrestling, asserting that he primarily focuses on striking and accepts getting taken down if it occurs.
“Do I look like I know how to wrestle? You get that from wrestling. I don’t wrestle. Not me. Never wrestled a day in my life. I just strike baby. [When I get taken down during fights,] I lay there and get beaten up until the end of the round. I have good ears.”
Zahabi, however, disputes O’Malley’s account. He referenced a moment in O’Malley’s fight against Petr Yan, where “Suga” managed to secure a takedown. Zahabi finds it improbable that O’Malley could achieve such a feat without any wrestling experience, especially given the challenges other top wrestlers, such as Merab Dvalishvili, have faced in taking him down.
Zahabi told N3on, “There’s no way [O’Malley does not train his wrestling]. He took down Petr Yan… I think he’s joking with you.”
Ahead of their upcoming bout at UFC Freedom 250, Zahabi anticipates that O’Malley might employ wrestling tactics. Nevertheless, Zahabi expressed his own preference for a striking-only exchange.
“I’m preparing to counter the wrestling he plans to bring… It’s not a strategy I need to utilize, and I won’t if I can avoid it. I prefer to engage him in a striking battle.”
