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Canadian UFC Fighter Vows to Spoil Trump's 80th Birthday Celebration at White House Event
Canadian mixed martial arts fighter Aiemann Zahabi has declared his intention to "spoil" the upcoming UFC fight scheduled for the White House South Lawn, which coincides with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. The event, set for June 14, is part of the Trump administration's celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
High-Stakes Fight Amid Political Tensions
The card features six fights, including a bout between Zahabi and American favorite Sean O'Malley. Zahabi, known for pulling off upsets, told Newsmax on Thursday that he relishes the opportunity to disrupt the festivities. "It's nice to have someone to sharpen your blade against. I think it's going to be great if I spoil the party," he said.
Zahabi highlighted his history as an underdog, noting, "I have the ninth largest upset in UFC history, and I'm looking to top that with this fight. I've spoiled parlays before, and I'm willing to do it again. Every time I'm an underdog, it looks like I win."
US-Canada Relations Under Strain
This tough talk comes at a time of heightened tension between the United States and Canada, longtime allies and major trading partners. In his second term, President Trump has imposed steep tariffs on Canada and repeatedly expressed a desire to make it America's "51st state."
A February Politico survey revealed that 48 percent of Canadians view the U.S. as the world's biggest threat to peace. For the first time in over a century, the Canadian military is modeling its response to a hypothetical U.S. invasion.
Zahabi addressed the souring relationship in his interview, stating, "Everyone watches the Canadians play when they play against the United States. It's huge stakes especially with all this tension going on between us politically." He added, "I like to think that sports unites us in a way. But it's nice to have that rivalry right. It's like having a brother that pushes you to your next level."
Zahabi's Unconventional Views on Trump
Unlike many Canadians, Zahabi appears unfazed by Trump and even expressed support for his policies. He suggested that if the 79-year-old president were running in Canada, he likely would have voted for him. "I would like capitalism to rein in socialism," Zahabi said. "In terms of no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, these are the kind of things I want to see in Canada, so that people can really make it here instead of hitting that ceiling."
Event Details and Controversy
President Trump, an avid MMA fan and close friend of UFC CEO Dana White, announced plans to build a 100,000-seat stadium near the White House for the June 14 spectacle. "They are going to put up something that's really amazing," Trump told reporters on March 6. "It's really having to do with our great 250th birthday, where we're having so many wonderful things."
American fighter Sean O'Malley has also expressed excitement about the event, saying in a recent podcast interview, "I'm very, very excited. We're dialed in."
Mixed Reactions from UFC Community
Some UFC figures have raised concerns about the event. Joe Rogan, the popular podcaster and UFC color commentator, endorsed Trump in 2024 but finds the timing "weird" due to the ongoing U.S. war against Iran.
"I'm excited. It sounds crazy. I know it's going to be very high security and high stress and weird to have a fight at the White House in the middle of a war," Rogan said during an episode of his show on Wednesday. "I would hope the war will be sorted out by June, but quite honestly, I'm not confident that's going to be the case. So that'll be weird — having this very high profile event where everyone's in one place at one time right there."
The White House UFC fight promises to be a landmark event, blending sports, politics, and international relations in a unique and potentially volatile mix.
