Canadian bantamweight fighter Aiemann Zahabi provided an update on potential celebrity involvement for his upcoming UFC fight at the White House on June 14. While singer and rapper Drake has been rumored to join him for his walkout, Zahabi clarified on April 18 that nothing is official yet. He stated that Drake’s participation is “not confirmed” despite an online report suggesting the artist had already agreed to accompany him.
The idea of Drake’s involvement originated from Zahabi himself during an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” Alongside his planned walkout with UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre, Zahabi envisioned Drake performing his hit song “Started From the Bottom” from the Oval Office to amplify the occasion.
Zahabi explained that the song holds personal significance, reflecting his own journey from humble beginnings, inspired by his parents’ immigration to Canada from a war-torn country. He sees parallels between their resilience and his ascent in mixed martial arts to a major event at the White House.
Drake’s potential appearance has also reignited discussions about the “Drake curse,” a popular joke among MMA fans referencing a series of high-profile UFC betting losses associated with the artist. While largely considered a meme, the superstition persists.
Despite the widespread speculation fueled by early reports, Zahabi has stepped in to clarify that he is still awaiting confirmation from Drake. He previously made a public appeal for the artist’s participation.
Even without Drake, Zahabi has secured a significant MMA legend for his walkout. Heavy confirmed that St-Pierre, his teammate at Tristar Gym and a fellow Canadian icon, will be in his corner, providing a prominent presence for the contender before his fight against former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley.
Zahabi is currently on a seven-fight winning streak and is ranked No. 6 in the bantamweight division. The upcoming bout against O’Malley is being promoted with a Canada-versus-America narrative, which Zahabi finds particularly motivating. He believes the national rivalry pushes athletes to perform at a higher level and is eager to defeat O’Malley at the White House as a representative of Canada on a historic stage.
In summary, while Georges St-Pierre is confirmed to accompany Aiemann Zahabi for his walkout at the UFC White House event, Drake’s involvement remains unconfirmed. Zahabi desires his participation, and until an official statement is made by Drake or the UFC, his role is still an aspiration rather than a concrete part of the event.
English Translation:
Canadian bantamweight fighter Aiemann Zahabi has provided an update regarding potential celebrity involvement for his upcoming UFC fight at the White House on June 14. While singer and rapper Drake has been linked to joining him for his walkout, Zahabi clarified on April 18 that nothing is official yet. He stated that Drake’s participation is “not confirmed” despite an online report suggesting the music star had already agreed to escort him to the octagon.
The idea of Drake’s involvement was initially proposed by Zahabi himself during an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” In addition to his planned walkout with UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre, Zahabi envisioned Drake performing his hit song “Started From the Bottom” from the Oval Office to elevate the moment.
Zahabi elaborated on the song’s personal meaning, explaining that it resonates with his own journey from a difficult beginning, inspired by his parents’ immigration to Canada from a war-torn country. He sees a parallel between their perseverance and his own rise in mixed martial arts to a prominent event at the White House.
Drake’s potential appearance has also revived discussions surrounding the “Drake curse,” a well-known inside joke among MMA fans referring to a series of high-profile UFC betting losses attributed to the artist. While largely considered a meme, the superstition continues to be a talking point.
Despite the widespread speculation fueled by early reports, Zahabi has stepped in to set the record straight, stating that he is still awaiting confirmation from Drake. He had previously made a public request for the artist’s involvement.
Even without Drake, Zahabi has already secured a significant figure from the MMA world for his walkout. Heavy reported that Zahabi confirmed St-Pierre, his teammate at Tristar Gym and a Canadian MMA legend, would be in his corner for the event, adding a high-profile presence for the contender before he even steps into the cage.
Zahabi enters the matchup on a seven-fight winning streak and is currently ranked No. 6 in the bantamweight division. The fight against O’Malley is framed with a Canada versus America theme, which Zahabi finds highly motivating. He believes the national rivalry inspires athletes to elevate their performance and expressed his desire to defeat O’Malley at the White House as a representative of Canada on a historic stage.
Therefore, is Drake part of the UFC White House event? As of now, the answer is no, at least not officially. Zahabi hopes for his involvement, St-Pierre is confirmed to be present, and until Drake responds or the UFC officially announces otherwise, the singer’s role remains an idea rather than a confirmed element of the show.
