The potential involvement of Canadian rapper Drake in the upcoming UFC White House event remains uncertain, according to bantamweight fighter Aiemann Zahabi. As of April 18th, Zahabi clarified that he and the UFC are still awaiting confirmation from Drake regarding his rumored role in walking out Zahabi for his fight.
Drake’s Role in the UFC White House Event: Aiemann Zahabi’s Latest Update
The idea of Drake’s participation originated from Zahabi himself during an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” Ahead of his June 14th bout against former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley at the White House event, Zahabi initially stated that MMA legend Georges St-Pierre would be part of his entrance. He then suggested that having Drake join him from the Oval Office to perform “Started From the Bottom” would elevate the moment even further.
Zahabi explained the personal significance of the song, drawing a parallel between his parents’ journey as immigrants from a war-torn country to Canada and his own rise in mixed martial arts. He feels he “started from nothing” to reach a platform as significant as a UFC event at the White House.
Drake’s potential presence also brings to mind the popular “Drake curse,” a lighthearted notion among fight fans linking his high-profile betting losses to several UFC fighters, including Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, and Aljamain Sterling. While largely considered a meme, the idea persists.
Despite Zahabi’s public request, there has been no official confirmation from Drake. Early reports and social media posts quickly amplified Zahabi’s initial statement, fueling speculation. However, Zahabi later stepped in to provide a more accurate picture.
Even without Drake, Zahabi has secured a significant figure in the MMA world for his walkout. Heavy has reported that Zahabi confirmed St-Pierre, his teammate at Tristar Gym and a UFC Hall of Famer, will be in his corner. This ensures a high-profile presence for the Canadian contender before the fight even begins.
Zahabi is entering the fight on a seven-fight winning streak and is currently ranked No. 6 in the bantamweight division. The matchup against O’Malley is being framed with a Canada-versus-America theme, which Zahabi states is a strong motivator for him.
The nationalistic angle is a key reason Zahabi hopes for Drake’s involvement. In the same interview, he highlighted how the rivalry between Canada and the United States can push athletes to perform at a higher level. He expressed his desire to defeat O’Malley at the White House while proudly representing Canada on what would be a historic stage for him.
So, will Drake be part of the UFC White House event? Currently, the answer is no, at least not officially. Zahabi’s desire for Drake’s presence, St-Pierre’s confirmed involvement, and the absence of any official word from Drake or the UFC means the rapper’s role remains an unconfirmed aspiration rather than a concrete part of the event.
English Translation
Canadian singer and rapper Drake has been linked to the UFC White House card, but for now, Aiemann Zahabi states that nothing is official. The Canadian bantamweight clarified on April 18th that he and the UFC are still awaiting word back, writing that Drake’s involvement is “not confirmed” after an online post suggested the music star had already agreed to walk him out.
Is Drake Part of the UFC White House Event? Aiemann Zahabi Provides Update
Zahabi himself initiated the idea during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. Looking ahead to his June 14th bout with former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley at the White House event, Zahabi said Georges St-Pierre would already be part of his entrance, then added that having Drake join him from the Oval Office while performing “Started From the Bottom” would make the moment even bigger.
Zahabi explained why the song holds personal meaning for him. He stated that his parents immigrated to Canada after leaving a war-torn country, and he connected that story to his own path in the sport, saying he “started from nothing” and reached a stage as significant as a UFC White House card.
Drake’s potential involvement would also revive discussions of the so-called “Drake curse,” a long-running joke among fight fans tied to several of his high-profile UFC betting losses, including misses on Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, and Aljamain Sterling, even if the idea remains more of a meme than a measurable trend.
Zahabi made a public request, but there has been no confirmation from Drake. Reports and social posts quickly picked up the original quote, fueling speculation, yet Zahabi later stepped in to correct the record himself.
Even without Drake, Zahabi has already secured a major MMA name for his walkout. Heavy reported that Zahabi confirmed St-Pierre, his Tristar teammate and a UFC Hall of Famer, would be in his corner for the event, giving the Canadian contender a high-profile presence before he even steps into the cage.
Zahabi enters the matchup on a seven-fight winning streak and is ranked No. 6 in the bantamweight division. The bout with O’Malley is framed around a Canada-versus-America theme that Zahabi says motivates him.
That national angle is part of why Zahabi wants Drake involved in the first place. In the same interview, he said the rivalry between Canada and the United States pushes athletes to raise their level, and he spoke about wanting to beat O’Malley at the White House while representing Canada on a stage that would be historic for him.
So, is Drake part of the UFC White House event? Right now, the answer is no, at least not officially. Zahabi wants him there, St-Pierre is already set to be involved, and until Drake responds or the UFC makes a statement otherwise, the singer’s role remains an idea rather than a confirmed piece of the show.
