Canadian mixed martial artist Aiemann Zahabi has confirmed that fellow Canadian and UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre will accompany him for his entrance at the upcoming UFC event held at the White House. However, the potential involvement of Canadian rapper Drake as a walk-out artist is still pending confirmation.
Zahabi clarified on April 18th that while the idea of Drake walking him out to the octagon has been circulating, it is “not confirmed” at this time. He stated that he and the UFC are awaiting a response from the artist.
The initial suggestion for Drake’s involvement originated from Zahabi himself during an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” Looking ahead to his June 14th bout against former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, Zahabi expressed his desire for St-Pierre to be part of his walk-out. He then added that having Drake join him, perhaps performing his hit song “Started From the Bottom,” would elevate the moment even further.
Zahabi shared that the song holds personal significance for him, drawing a parallel between his own journey and his parents’ immigration to Canada after fleeing a war-torn country. He feels he “started from nothing” and has now reached a significant platform like a UFC event at the White House.
The potential presence of Drake also reignites discussions about the “Drake curse,” a popular joke among fight fans that links the musician’s alleged betting on UFC fights to subsequent losses for the fighters he supported. This has become a recurring meme, despite lacking concrete statistical evidence.
While Zahabi publicly extended an invitation, there has been no official word from Drake or his representatives. Early reports and social media posts amplified Zahabi’s initial comments, fueling speculation, but Zahabi has since stepped in to manage expectations.
Even without Drake’s participation, Zahabi is set to have a significant MMA figure in his corner. Reports indicate that St-Pierre, a teammate at Tristar Gym and a renowned UFC legend, will be present, providing Zahabi with considerable star power before he even steps into the cage.
Zahabi is currently on a seven-fight winning streak and holds the No. 6 ranking in the bantamweight division. His upcoming fight against O’Malley is being framed with a Canada-versus-America narrative, a theme that Zahabi stated motivates him.
This national rivalry is a key reason why Zahabi hoped for Drake’s involvement. He believes such competitive matchups push athletes to perform at their best. Zahabi aims to defeat O’Malley at the White House event while proudly representing Canada on what he considers a historic stage.
Therefore, as of now, Drake’s participation in the UFC White House event remains an aspiration rather than a confirmed reality. With St-Pierre already confirmed, the situation hinges on a response from Drake or an official announcement from the UFC.
