Where’s the buzz? UFC White House ‘doesn’t seem as big as a title fight’ for sliding Sean O’Malley
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley went from main event title fight at UFC 316, to co-headlining status at UFC 324, to the middle of the card at UFC White House. Prelims next? O’Malley, 31, was once considered the biggest star in all of UFC but these days, is not feeling like his upcoming “moment” […]
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 24: Sean O'Malley reacts to the end of the match in a bantamweight bout during the UFC 324 event at T-Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley went from main event title fight at UFC 316 , to co-headlining status at UFC 324 , to the middle of the card at UFC White House . Prelims next?
O’Malley, 31, was once considered the biggest star in all of UFC but these days, is not feeling like his upcoming “moment” against Aiemann Zahabi can match some of his previous title fights, like his victories over Aljamain Sterling and Marlon Vera . “I feel like the Aljo fight felt so big, the Chito fight felt so big,” O’Malley (19-3, 1 NC) said on YouTube . “The moment, being the main event, fighting for the title — this is a huge fight.
I’m fighting … it feels like a big fight. I mean, it’s the f*cking White House. There’s only six fights on the card.
It’s such a big deal. It feels like a big fight, but the moment, I guess, doesn’t seem as big as a title fight, you know what I’m saying? ” Swapping fans for a bunch of stuffy international dignitaries probably isn’t helping matters.