Sean O’Malley knows KO win over Aiemann Zahabi doesn’t guarantee UFC title fight: “Even then, we’ll see”

Sean O’Malley thinks a finish at UFC Freedom 250 gives him the best chance at another title fight, but he doesn’t feel it’s a lock.

O’Malley is scheduled to collide with Zahabi in a pivotal bantamweight tilt on June 14. The “Suga” show is looking to build off his January win over Song Yadong during UFC’s debut on Paramount+. As for Zahabi, he’s in search of the biggest win of his pro MMA career, which would extend his winning streak to eight.

Speaking to Megan Olivi in a UFC on Paramount interview, O’Malley said that a knockout win over Zahabi would give him the best shot at facing reigning UFC bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan a second time, but he won’t consider another title fight a guarantee.

“I can’t go out there and get a boring win,” O’Malley said. “Gotta go out there and finish him, and even then we’ll see.”

O’Malley doesn’t expect to put Zahabi away with just one punch given his upcoming opponent’s toughness.

“He’s very tough, very durable,” O’Malley admitted. “I’m going to have to land a knockout shot multiple times, and I’m very capable of doing that against his style, and landing good shots a lot.”

O’Malley has a win over Yan, but he has been defeated by Merab Dvalishvili twice. Dvalishvili has said the UFC brass guaranteed him a trilogy fight with Yan at some point this year, so O’Malley may have some work to do beyond UFC Freedom 250.

UFC Freedom 250 will be taking place on the White House lawn on June 14. The event will feature a title unification bout and an interim championship fight. Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje will clash for the undisputed distinction in the lightweight division. Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira are set to compete for the interim heavyweight gold in the co-main event.

Could Sean O’Malley skip the line for another UFC title fight if he defeats Aiemann Zahabi? Sound off in the comments below.