Aiemann Zahabi Bio
Aiemann Zahabi (born November 19, 1987) is a Canadian mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Trained out of Tristar Gym in Montreal, he carries a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has built a professional record that includes multiple UFC wins by knockout, submission, and decision. As of October 21, 2025, he holds the #7 position in the official UFC bantamweight rankings, establishing himself as one of the top contenders in the 135-pound class.
Zahabi is widely recognized as the younger brother of Firas Zahabi, the head trainer of Tristar Gym and one of the most respected coaches in mixed martial arts. Growing up around elite-level training and high-caliber sparring partners shaped his technical foundation and competitive mindset from an early age.
Early Life and Background
Aiemann Zahabi was born on November 19, 1987, in Laval, Quebec, Canada. He was raised in a Lebanese-Canadian household, with family ties that connected him to a deep tradition of martial arts discipline and physical culture. His older brother, Firas Zahabi, would go on to become one of the most influential coaches in the sport as the leader of Tristar Gym in Montreal.
From a young age, Zahabi was exposed to the routines and expectations of high-performance training, given his brother’s growing reputation in the coaching world. He began training in martial arts during his formative years and eventually earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, reflecting years of consistent study and competition on the mats. His early development blended grappling fundamentals with the striking and conditioning work that would later define his professional career.
Residing in Montreal, Quebec, Zahabi continues to represent the strong Canadian mixed martial arts pipeline that has produced numerous UFC-level athletes. His upbringing in a tight-knit family and a training-rich environment provided the discipline and competitive foundation that would fuel his transition into professional fighting.
Path to MMA
Zahabi’s entry into professional mixed martial arts came in 2012, when he began competing on the regional Canadian circuit. Working under the guidance of his brother and the coaching staff at Tristar Gym, he built his early game around a balanced approach that combined his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt credentials with developing striking skills and functional wrestling.
Before earning a place on the UFC roster, Zahabi compiled a perfect 6–0 record, with every victory coming by way of first-round stoppage. This remarkable finishing rate demonstrated his ability to end fights quickly and caught the attention of UFC matchmakers, who signed him to the promotion. His amateur and early professional results reflected the high-level sparring and training environment that Tristar Gym is known for, as well as the mentorship he received from some of the most experienced coaches in the sport.
His rapid rise through the regional ranks, combined with his family connection to one of MMA’s most respected training camps, made his transition to the UFC a natural next step in his career trajectory.
Aiemann Zahabi Career
Early UFC Career (2017–2019)
Zahabi made his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Browne, where he faced Reginaldo Vieira and earned a victory by unanimous decision. The performance introduced him to the global stage and showed that he could compete against experienced promotional talent.
In his second UFC appearance, he faced Ricardo Ramos on November 4, 2017, at UFC 217, and suffered a knockout loss in the third round. He then faced Vince Morales on May 4, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 151, and dropped a unanimous decision. These early setbacks gave Zahabi valuable lessons about the depth of the UFC’s bantamweight division and motivated him to refine his training and strategy heading into the next phase of his career.
UFC Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Zahabi’s true UFC turnaround began on February 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 185, when he faced Drako Rodriguez. After Rodriguez missed the bantamweight weight limit and forfeited a portion of his purse to Zahabi, the fight proceeded at a catchweight. Zahabi delivered a first-round knockout and earned the Performance of the Night award, signaling his arrival as a finisher in the division.
He followed that performance with a unanimous decision win over Ricky Turcios on July 9, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 39, showcasing improved conditioning and grappling control. Then, on June 10, 2023, at UFC 289, Zahabi produced another highlight-reel moment by knocking out Aori Qileng in the first round, cementing his reputation as a dangerous and dynamic bantamweight contender.
Tristar Gym Era and Top-Five Push (2024–Present)
Continuing to train at Tristar Gym, Zahabi opened 2024 with a unanimous decision win over Javid Basharat on March 2 at UFC Fight Night 238. Although a scheduled bout with Marcus McGhee on September 7, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 242 was cancelled after Zahabi withdrew, he quickly returned to action.
On November 2, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 246, Zahabi took a unanimous decision over seasoned veteran Pedro Munhoz, further elevating his standing in the bantamweight class. He then faced former two-time UFC Featherweight Champion José Aldo on May 15, 2025, at UFC 315, originally scheduled for bantamweight before the bout was shifted to featherweight when Aldo could not make weight. Zahabi won the fight by unanimous decision. He closed the stretch with a split decision win over former UFC Bantamweight Championship challenger Marlon Vera on October 18, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 262, a result that pushed him into the #7 spot in the UFC bantamweight rankings.
Driving Style and Strengths
Zahabi’s style is built on a foundation of high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, sharp counter-striking, and disciplined conditioning. He is comfortable operating in all ranges of combat, with particular strength in finishing opponents during early exchanges, as evidenced by multiple first-round stoppages. Training year-round at Tristar Gym has allowed him to develop well-rounded skills and the strategic patience required to navigate long fights when needed.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Zahabi’s UFC run came with his first-round knockout of Drako Rodriguez, which earned him the Performance of the Night award and marked his arrival as a genuine finisher. His unanimous decision victory over José Aldo at UFC 315 stands as the highest-profile win of his career to date, while his split decision over Marlon Vera in October 2025 pushed him into the top ten of the UFC bantamweight rankings.
Aiemann Zahabi Career Wins
Aiemann Zahabi has compiled 14 professional victories across his mixed martial arts career, with his wins distributed across knockouts, submissions, and decisions. His finishing instincts were on full display during his pre-UFC run, where he stopped all six of his early opponents in the first round. Inside the UFC, he has continued to deliver meaningful results against established names, including a first-round knockout of Aori Qileng and decision wins over Pedro Munhoz and José Aldo.
UFC Highlights
Since joining the promotion in 2017, Zahabi has steadily built a résumé highlighted by decision wins over Reginaldo Vieira, Ricky Turcios, Javid Basharat, Pedro Munhoz, and José Aldo, along with knockout victories over Drako Rodriguez and Aori Qileng. His most recent victory came via split decision over Marlon Vera on October 18, 2025, a result that elevated him into the top ten of the bantamweight division.
Other Wins and Performances
Prior to his UFC signing, Zahabi went 6–0 on the regional Canadian circuit, finishing every opponent in the opening round. These early performances demonstrated his finishing ability and set the stage for his eventual promotion to the world’s largest mixed martial arts organization.
Aiemann Zahabi Family
Family Background and Fighting Lineage
Aiemann Zahabi comes from a Lebanese-Canadian family with deep ties to combat sports. His older brother, Firas Zahabi, is the head trainer of Tristar Gym and one of the most respected coaches in mixed martial arts, having worked with numerous UFC champions and contenders. Growing up alongside Firas gave Aiemann direct access to elite coaching, training partners, and a professional-level fight environment from an early stage of his development.
Personal Life
Zahabi resides in Montreal, Quebec, where he continues to train out of Tristar Gym. He maintains an active presence on social media, sharing updates on his training and career with supporters, and remains closely connected to his family and the broader Montreal MMA community.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign has been a breakthrough year for Aiemann Zahabi. He opened the year with a high-profile unanimous decision victory over José Aldo at UFC 315 on May 15, a featherweight bout that was shifted up in weight when Aldo could not make the bantamweight limit. The win over a former two-time UFC Featherweight Champion gave Zahabi one of the most significant victories of his career.
He followed that performance with a split decision win over Marlon Vera on October 18 at UFC Fight Night 262, a closely contested bout that pushed him into the #7 position in the official UFC bantamweight rankings. These results have firmly placed him in title contention conversations as the calendar turns toward the end of the year.
With two statement wins over established names and a top-ten ranking now secured, Zahabi enters the back half of 2025 with strong momentum. Training out of Tristar Gym alongside one of the deepest coaching staffs in the sport, he is positioned as a serious threat in the bantamweight title picture and a fighter to watch in the division’s upcoming matchups.