Chael Sonnen has added a new layer of intrigue to the bantamweight division, claiming that the upcoming bout between Sean O’Malley and Aiemann Zahabi will be contested for an interim title.
The fight, scheduled for June 14 as part of a planned UFC event at the White House, had already generated buzz earlier in the week when both former 135-pound titleholder O’Malley (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and Zahabi (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) suggested it could carry interim championship stakes. At the time, those claims were widely dismissed as an April Fool’s prank.
Sonnen, however, insists the development is legitimate.
“All right, this just in: Sean O'Malley's fight at the White House has been elevated to an interim title fight,” Sonnen said in a video posted Friday to his YouTube channel. “Which means a couple of things. First off... Get well to Petr Yan. And secondly, it doesn't look like Merab will be getting that immediate rematch.”
If accurate, the report signals a significant shift in the title picture at 135 pounds. Petr Yan (20-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC), who dethroned Merab Dvalishvili (21-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) in December to reclaim the bantamweight championship, had been expected to run things back with Dvalishvili in a rematch later this year.
Speculation surrounding Yan’s health has circulated in recent weeks, though no official announcement has been made regarding an injury. Sonnen’s comments appear to lend weight to those rumors, suggesting the UFC may be preparing a contingency plan in the form of an interim title fight.
Such a move would leave Dvalishvili, the division’s former champion, in a precarious position. Despite his recent loss, he remained a central figure in the title conversation and was widely viewed as the frontrunner for a rematch with Yan. An interim title bout between O’Malley and Zahabi could push him to the sidelines, at least temporarily.
Neither the UFC nor the fighters involved have formally confirmed the interim title designation. Until then, Sonnen’s remarks remain the strongest indication yet that the June 14 bout may carry championship implications.
As the situation develops, clarity around Yan’s status and the UFC’s plans for the bantamweight division will be critical in determining how the title picture ultimately unfolds.
