WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sean O’Malley delivered one of the most memorable finishes of UFC Freedom 250, but the former UFC bantamweight champion left the White House disappointed for one reason.
He didn’t get a bonus. Despite scoring a highlight-reel knockout over Aiemann Zahabi on the historic card held on the South Lawn of the White House, O’Malley was overlooked when the UFC handed out its post-fight awards.
Instead, interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane and newly crowned lightweight champion Justin Gaethje earned Performance of the Night bonuses, while Gaethje and Ilia Topuria took home Fight of the Night honors.
O’Malley Expected Bonus After Knockout
O’Malley entered his matchup against Zahabi looking to bounce back from one of the toughest losses of his career. He did exactly that. The popular striker stopped Zahabi in the second round with a devastating finish that many believed would earn him an additional performance bonus.
O’Malley certainly thought so. Speaking afterward, he made it clear he was frustrated by the UFC’s decision. “Then we did a fcking pointless press conference where I didn’t get a bonus, and it was fcking ridiculous,” O’Malley said.
For a fighter known for producing viral moments and highlight-reel finishes, being left out of the bonus conversation came as a surprise.
UFC Freedom 250 was one of the biggest events in company history. Held on the grounds of the White House and attended by President Donald Trump, the event generated worldwide attention and featured several championship-level matchups.
O’Malley’s knockout victory was among the standout moments of the night. Yet despite his performance, the bonus money went elsewhere. While disappointed, O’Malley admitted that simply securing the victory still carried tremendous value.
“These wins feel good,” O’Malley said. “But if I would have lost, those are just so much worse than wins.”
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
