Canadian bantamweight Aiemann Zahabi has provided an update on the highly anticipated UFC event at the White House on June 14th. While Georges St-Pierre, Zahabi’s teammate and a UFC Hall of Famer, is confirmed to be in his corner, the involvement of rapper Drake is still pending. Zahabi clarified on April 18th that Drake’s appearance, which was speculated after a social media post suggested he would walk Zahabi out, is “not confirmed” and that they are awaiting his response.
The idea of Drake joining Zahabi for his bout against former champion Sean O’Malley originated during an appearance by Zahabi on The Ariel Helwani Show. Zahabi envisioned Drake performing his song “Started From the Bottom” from the Oval Office as part of his walkout, inspired by his own journey of overcoming adversity.
Zahabi explained that the song resonates with him due to his parents’ immigration to Canada from a war-torn country. He sees parallels between their struggle and his own rise in mixed martial arts, emphasizing that he “started from nothing” to reach such a prominent platform as a UFC event at the White House.
Drake’s potential involvement has also reignited discussions about the “Drake curse,” a popular fan theory linking his association with fighters to their betting losses. However, Zahabi has focused on the positive aspects of the potential collaboration.
While Drake’s participation remains unconfirmed, the presence of Georges St-Pierre adds significant star power to Zahabi’s corner. St-Pierre, a fellow Tristar Gym athlete, will be a formidable presence as Zahabi, currently ranked sixth in the bantamweight division and on a seven-fight winning streak, faces American contender Sean O’Malley. The fight is being framed with a Canada-versus-America narrative, which Zahabi finds highly motivating.
Zahabi expressed his desire for Drake’s involvement to further amplify the national rivalry and create a historic moment for Canadian athletes. However, as of now, Drake’s role is speculative, and his confirmation is awaited. The UFC has yet to make any official statement regarding Drake’s participation.