Aiemann Zahabi Bio
Aiemann Zahabi is a Canadian mixed martial artist born on November 19, 1987, in Laval, Quebec. Competing in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), he has built a professional record of 14 wins against a small number of losses since turning pro in 2012. He is widely recognized as the younger brother of Firas Zahabi, the head trainer of Tristar Gym, where Aiemann also trains. As of late 2025, he held a place inside the UFC bantamweight top ten.
Zahabi fights out of Montreal, Quebec, and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has finished opponents by knockout, submission, and decision, and he has earned Performance of the Night honors during his UFC run. His career has progressed steadily from regional debut to ranked UFC contender.
Early Life and Background
Aiemann Zahabi was born and raised in Quebec, Canada, to a family of Lebanese heritage. He grew up in the Montreal area, the same city that would later become the home of his training base. From an early age he was surrounded by martial arts through the gym culture established by his older brother Firas.
Firas Zahabi went on to become one of the most respected coaches in mixed martial arts as the head trainer of Tristar Gym in Montreal. Watching his brother’s rise gave Aiemann direct exposure to high-level training methods and a network of elite fighters. This family connection to coaching shaped his understanding of the sport long before his first professional bout.
Path to MMA
Zahabi began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2012, competing in the bantamweight division. Before reaching the UFC, he built an unblemished regional record of six wins with no losses, and every one of those victories came by first-round stoppage. That early finishing rate established him as a prospect worth watching on the North American circuit.
His development took place primarily at Tristar Gym, where he trained under the guidance of his brother Firas and a staff experienced in preparing world-class talent. The combination of a finishing instinct and elite coaching positioned him for an eventual call from the UFC. By the time he signed with the promotion, he had already proven he could end fights quickly against experienced opposition.
Aiemann Zahabi Career
Early Career (2012–2017)
From 2012 through 2017, Zahabi competed primarily on the Canadian regional scene, stacking six straight first-round finishes. That streak drew the attention of UFC matchmakers, and he made his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 105 against Reginaldo Vieira. He won that debut by unanimous decision, showing he could also grind out a full three rounds when needed.
His second UFC appearance came on November 4, 2017, at UFC 217 against Ricardo Ramos. The fight ended in the third round with a knockout loss for Zahabi, his first defeat inside the Octagon. The setback was a brief interruption in a run that had otherwise been defined by quick finishes.
UFC Breakthrough (2019–2023)
Zahabi returned to action on May 4, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 151 against Vince Morales, but the bout resulted in a unanimous decision loss. He then faced a stretch of cancelled bookings, including a December 2020 fight with Drako Rodriguez that was scrapped after Zahabi tested positive for COVID-19.
The pairing with Rodriguez was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 185 on February 20, 2021, after Rodriguez missed the bantamweight limit and forfeited a portion of his purse. Zahabi won the fight by knockout in round one, and the performance earned him the Performance of the Night award. He followed that result with a unanimous decision win over Ricky Turcios at UFC on ESPN 39 on July 9, 2022, and a first-round knockout of Aori Qileng at UFC 289 on June 10, 2023.
Tristar Gym Era (2024–Present)
Zahabi’s 2024 campaign began with a unanimous decision win over Javid Basharat at UFC Fight Night 238 on March 2, 2024. A scheduled September 2024 bout with Marcus McGhee was later cancelled after Zahabi withdrew from the event. He closed the year with a unanimous decision victory over veteran Pedro Munhoz at UFC Fight Night 246 on November 2, 2024.
On May 15, 2025, at UFC 315, Zahabi took on former two-time UFC Featherweight Champion José Aldo in a bout shifted to featherweight after Aldo could not make the bantamweight limit. Zahabi won by unanimous decision, a result that lifted his profile inside the division. He then defeated former title challenger Marlon Vera by split decision at UFC Fight Night 262 on October 18, 2025, cementing a place in the bantamweight rankings.
Style and Strengths
Zahabi is a well-rounded bantamweight whose early career was built on first-round finishes, including knockouts and submissions. Training out of Tristar Gym has given him access to high-level sparring and a sophisticated game plan approach. His recent resume shows growing comfort going the distance against top opposition, with decision wins over several ranked opponents.
Notable Events and Milestones
One signature moment came in February 2021, when he knocked out Drako Rodriguez in the first round to claim a Performance of the Night bonus. The May 2025 win over former champion José Aldo stands as the highest-profile victory of his career to date. Entering late 2025, he held a spot inside the UFC bantamweight top ten.
Aiemann Zahabi Career Wins
Across his professional career beginning in 2012, Zahabi has compiled 14 total wins against a small number of losses. His victories have come by knockout, by submission, and by decision, with the bulk of his early results ending inside the opening round. The most recent stretch of his record features several decision wins over experienced UFC opposition.
UFC Highlights
Zahabi’s UFC win list includes victories over Reginaldo Vieira, Drako Rodriguez, Ricky Turcios, Aori Qileng, Javid Basharat, Pedro Munhoz, José Aldo, and Marlon Vera. His first UFC win came by unanimous decision in his debut at UFC Fight Night 105, and his most recent finish inside the distance was the first-round knockout of Aori Qileng at UFC 289 in 2023.
Other Wins & Performances
Prior to joining the UFC, Zahabi posted a perfect 6–0 record on the regional circuit, with every victory coming in the first round by stoppage. That run established his finishing credentials and helped him earn a contract with the promotion.
Aiemann Zahabi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Zahabi comes from a family of Lebanese heritage that settled in Quebec, Canada. His older brother, Firas Zahabi, is the head trainer of Tristar Gym in Montreal and one of the most respected coaches in mixed martial arts. Aiemann has trained out of Tristar Gym for much of his professional career, keeping the family connection to the sport close to home.
Personal Life
Zahabi resides in Montreal, Quebec, the same city where he trains at Tristar Gym. He keeps most of his personal life private, and few additional public details are available beyond his residence, nationality, and family ties to the gym.
2025 Season Performance
Zahabi’s 2025 calendar was headlined by the catchweight bout against former two-time champion José Aldo at UFC 315 on May 15, 2025. The fight was moved to featherweight on the day of the weigh-ins after Aldo could not make the bantamweight limit, and Zahabi still walked away with a unanimous decision win. That result marked the most significant victory of his UFC tenure.
He followed the Aldo win with a split decision over former title challenger Marlon Vera at UFC Fight Night 262 on October 18, 2025. The back-to-back wins over established names pushed him into the upper tier of the bantamweight rankings, where he was listed at #7 in October 2025. With consistent performances and a clear role at Tristar Gym, he entered the late stages of the year as a legitimate contender in a crowded division.
