Sean O’Malley is never one to shy away from speaking his mind, and this time his target is the UFC’s newly unveiled fight kits for the upcoming White House card.
Set to compete at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 in Washington, D.C., O’Malley will face Aiemann Zahabi in a high-profile bantamweight clash. But ahead of the historic event, the former champion has taken issue with the gear he’s expected to wear.
“I don’t know if I’m even supposed to say this, but they’re ugly,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “Mine were ugly. I don’t like them.”
Known for his colorful style and preference for standout looks, O’Malley also pointed out that the design doesn’t reflect his personality.
“They’re not pink, which is fine… I’ll make my f*cking hair pink, whatever,” he said. “But I’m just like… did they go on Fiverr and say, ‘Hey, you know, we got these guys getting into a fight on the White House lawn? Can you just come up with something?’”
Despite his criticism, O’Malley isn’t letting the wardrobe choice distract him from the fight itself. In fact, he believes the white shorts could add a different kind of visual impact once the action begins.
“I do truly believe I’m gonna crack Aiemann,” O’Malley said. “I think I’m gonna beat the f*ck out of him… I’m excited for my white shorts to be red. Like, I want to see how red I can get my white shorts from his blood.”
“Suga” enters the bout following a win over Song Yadong at UFC 324 in January, looking to build momentum after setbacks in his title pursuits.
Sean O’Malley has heard enough from UFC insiders to believe the White House card on June 14 is going to be something unlike anything the promotion has ever produced.
The former UFC bantamweight champion is scheduled to fight Aiemann Zahabi on the undercard of UFC Freedom 250, the event taking place on the White House lawn to mark 250 years of American Independence. O’Malley shared what he has been hearing from people within the organization on his YouTube channel.
“The White House card, I was in Vegas this weekend, talked to a lot of UFC people, a lot of UFC staff,” O’Malley said. “They were like, ‘This is going to be insane.’ They were kind of giving me a little rundown, nothing really that I could share, but just their excitement is what I was taking away. They were like, ‘We walked it, it’s crazy.’”
He acknowledged that significant logistical questions remain unanswered, including who will be permitted to attend given the security requirements surrounding the venue. “
The Secret Service alone is going to be insane. I still don’t know who’s going to be allowed in. I don’t know if family is going to be allowed. I have no idea.”
O’Malley framed the event as a potential turning point for how the UFC approaches large-scale outdoor productions.
“A lot of moving pieces. If they can pull this off, then the opportunities are endless. Where do you go next? The colosseum? If they can perfect an outdoor show, that could change things.”
This will not be O’Malley’s first experience with a landmark UFC setting. He headlined the UFC card at the Sphere in September 2024 before losing the bantamweight championship to Merab Dvalishvili at Noche UFC 306.
Sean O’Malley revealed he hasn’t received any communication from the UFC regarding the historic White House event scheduled for June 14, 2026. The former bantamweight champion shared his uncertainty on social media, stating he hasn’t gotten a call about the highly anticipated card.
“I haven’t got a call, I haven’t heard nothing,” O’Malley said. “Suga Show might not be on the White House.”
The revelation comes despite O’Malley’s recent unanimous decision victory over Song Yadong at UFC 324 in January, where he bounced back from consecutive losses to Merab Dvalishvili. Following that win, O’Malley called for a rematch against current bantamweight champion Petr Yan, specifically targeting the White House event.
White House Card Still Shrouded in Mystery
O’Malley’s comments highlight the broader confusion surrounding the June 14 card, which remains without a single officially announced fight. UFC President Dana White confirmed in early February that matchmaking meetings were underway, stating fights would be “dialed in by this weekend.” However, no official announcements have followed.
The UFC White House card is expected to feature approximately 6-7 fights on the South Lawn, with 3,000-4,000 live spectators and an additional 85,000 fans watching from The Ellipse on large screens. The event will stream on Paramount+ as part of the UFC’s $7.7 billion broadcast deal.
O’Malley’s Championship Path
Currently ranked #3 in the bantamweight division, O’Malley lost his championship to Dvalishvili twice in 2025 — first by unanimous decision at UFC 306, then by submission at UFC 316. His victory over Yadong at UFC 324 marked his return to the win column and potentially positioned him for another title opportunity.
A showdown with Yan at the White House would represent a significant redemption opportunity for O’Malley, who previously defeated “No Mercy” at UFC 280 in October 2022. That victory ultimately led to his championship reign, making a White House rematch particularly meaningful for the polarizing star.
With only four months until the historic event and zero confirmed matchups, the UFC’s silence continues to fuel speculation about which fighters will make the exclusive card. Whether O’Malley receives that call remains to be seen.
Sean O’Malley has a message for UFC fighters grumbling about their paychecks: if you’re not happy with “10 and 10,” there’s always a red vest waiting for you at Target. As O’Malley gears up for his blockbuster rematch at UFC 316 this Saturday, the bantamweight star isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to the sport’s most heated debate.
Sean O’Malley to UFC Fighters: Don’t Like the Pay? Try Target
Former UFC champ ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley doubled down on his blunt philosophy regarding fighters who are just starting out in the UFC. In an interview with Demetrious Johnson, he explained:
“People complain, ‘I’m only getting paid 10 and 10.’ But in reality, who’s there to see you fight? Your mom, your dad, your sister, a couple buddies, no one’s paying to watch you on TV. You have to build your name up, bring value to the promotion. If you don’t want to make $50,000 a fight, go work at Target. No one’s forcing you to fight.”
UFC Fighter Pay Debate Heats Up
The US-born O’Malley’s comments land at a time when fighter pay remains a hot-button issue in MMA. Critics say the UFC’s entry-level deals, $10,000 to show, $10,000 to win, are too low for the risks fighters take. The UFC, meanwhile, contends that the real money comes to those who can draw a crowd, sell pay-per-views, and become stars. Sean O’Malley, who started on those same “10 and 10” contracts, says the key is self-promotion and performance.
Image: @ufc/X
“I understood early that you have to bring value to the UFC and build your own brand,” he said, pointing to his own rise through highlight-reel knockouts and a knack for marketing himself, rainbow hair included.
He’s quick to credit the UFC for his platform: “I still make – probably about the same amount of money outside the UFC as I do inside the UFC right now. It’s wild to think about. But I know the reason I’m making that much is because of the UFC. I wouldn’t have this platform or following without them. It’s very mutual: I’ve done a lot for the UFC, but they don’t need me. I need the UFC to get to where I want to go. I’m very grateful for the platform they give me.”
Building a Brand, Building a Paycheck
‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley’s hustle started long before the bright lights. “Even when I was 16, I was hustling – selling tickets, merch, getting sponsors. Tim Welch told me to get an Instagram when I moved down here. I always wanted to be different. The rainbow hair? That was 6ix9ine-inspired. The first time I did my hair was the Eddie Wineland fight, hair plus that knockout was a recipe for success. Every fight, a new hair. But it always comes down to performance. People want to see knockouts.”
UFC 316
Now, he returns to the Octagon at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey, looking to reclaim the bantamweight title from Merab Dvalishvili, the man who took it from him last September. Sean O’Malley has left no stone unturned in his preparation, even making lifestyle changes like swearing off podcasting, video games, and, reportedly, taking a vow of celibacy in the lead-up. He’s hoping to erase any doubts from their first meeting, when he fought through injury.
Image: @ufc/Instagram
Merab Dvalishvili, for his part, has been on a dominant run, dismantling O’Malley in their first fight and defending his belt in style against Umar Nurmagomedov. Saturday’s main event is a chance for O’Malley to prove he belongs at the top, and for Dvalishvili to cement his reign. The UFC 316 card is stacked, with a co-main event featuring Julianna Peña defending her women’s bantamweight title against two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison.
As O’Malley puts it, if you want the big checks, you need to bring something extra to the cage. Otherwise, there’s always Target.
Sean O’Malley is determined to reclaim his place on the UFC’s bantamweight throne.
The former champion, one of the UFC’s top stars, is coming off a decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 last September, a setback that ended a three-fight winning streak that included capturing and defending the bantamweight title.
“Suga” was largely outgrappled by Dvalishvili inside the Sphere but showed flashes of his striking prowess, including a body kick that hurt the Georgian late in the fight. Now, O’Malley is already eyeing a path back to the title.
Speaking at a pre-fight press conference ahead of RIZIN 49, O’Malley expressed his hopes for a rematch with Dvalishvili, who is set to defend the bantamweight title against undefeated rising star Umar Nurmagomedov on Jan. 18.
“Ideally, Merab beats Umar and I get the rematch,” O’Malley said. “But if Umar wins, it’ll be Umar. That’s what I want next: a title fight. Hopefully mid-next year. So, the winner of that one. That fight’s coming up very, very soon.”
Sean O’Malley recently weighed in on the UFC’s decision to release Muhammad Mokaev following his fight with Manel Kape at UFC 304.
Mokaev managed to secure a unanimous decision victory over Kape last month in a bout that was fraught with trouble from the start. The tension between the two flyweights began at the hotel, where they engaged in a heated altercation. “The Punisher” later confessed to instigating the clash by sucker-punching Kape. Their animosity continued to flare up, with the pair nearly coming to blows at several media events during the fight week.
White clarified that it wasn’t Mokaev’s performance or fighting style that led to the decision but rather a series of off-the-Octagon issues that made the matchmakers hesitant to extend another contract offer.
Mokaev admitted that his behavior was met with disapproval and issued a public apology to the UFC through a series of posts on X. Despite his contrition, White and the organization held firm in their decision, and he has now been removed from the official flyweight rankings.
“Sugar” speculates that a major reason behind Mokaev’s removal from the UFC might have been his seemingly lackluster performance against Kape…
O’Malley Finds Mokaev’s Release ‘A Bit Surprising’
During a recent episode of the TimboSugarShow, O’Malley and his coach, Tim Welch, discussed Mokaev’s removal from the UFC roster. The reigning UFC bantamweight champion admitted that he found it a bit shocking that a young, undefeated prospect was released.
However, he speculated that Mokaev’s antics and underwhelming performance in the cage might have played a significant role in the decision.
“It is surprising, though, because he’s 25 [years old], and he’s one of the few fighters I can name off the top of my head,” O’Malley said. “He’s 7-0 in the UFC, so it is a little bit surprising. But yeah, also, if you’re going to go in there and make the UFC’s life hell for fight week, and then go in there with only four punches thrown in the first round—they were separating them in the Octagon before the fight even started. Then the bell rings, and three punches were thrown in the first round.”
Mokaev recently claimed that he has already made amends for his past mistakes and even offered to fight for free if the UFC gives him another shot at redemption.
