At UFC 315 held in Montreal, Quebec, while facing ‘The King of Rio, ‘ Canadian fighter Aiemann Zahabi stepped into the Octagon with a legacy to honor and a legend to challenge. When Zahabi secured a win over Jose Aldo, through a unanimous decision, not only did he collect the biggest win of his career, but also symbolically carried forward the torch of Canadian MMA greatness, once held by his mentor, Georges St-Pierre.

His victory over Aldo was a subject of huge criticism and questioning, as the intensely competitive fight, with the Canadian coming close to being finished in the third round. Still, Zahabi seemed to have done enough which convinced the judges that he was the better fighter that day. While the decision sparked debate among fans and fighters, with some even labeling it a “robbery,” the outcome marked a turning point in Zahabi’s career.

After Jose Aldo’s second retirement, he has been removed from the UFC 135-pound division rankings, and Aiemann Zahabi has taken his place—now ranked at 11th in the division. Yet that is not all that he accomplished with this victory. Currently on a six-fight win streak in the UFC, Zahabi announced that after GSP’s legendary 13-fight win streak, he became only the second Canadian fighter to have a win streak of six fights or more.

Zahabi wrote on his X, “Alhamdulilah, @GeorgesStPierre and I are the only Canadian fighters to win 6 fights in a row in the UFC! Huge thanks to my brother Firas Zahabi!.” As Zahabi entered the longest win streak list at 75th, his idol stands among the top 5 fighters with the longest win streak at #4 with 13 straight wins. 

While Zahabi has high regards for ‘GSP’, his mentor sees great potential in him too. With all that being said, let’s take a look at the relationship of Aiemann Zahabi and Georges St.Pierre, something that helped Zahabi overcome Aldo and will surely be decisive in his future fights.

‘GSP’ chooses to guide Aiemann Zahabi towards UFC success

Before the bout, Zahabi sought guidance from his cornerman and mentor, Georges St-Pierre. ‘GSP’ advised him not to place Aldo on a pedestal. Drawing from his own experience of over-respecting opponents, GSP reminded Zahabi that Aldo, despite his accolades, was human and beatable. This counsel proved pivotal, as Zahabi approached the fight with confidence and composure.

St-Pierre emphasized the importance of this fight for Zahabi’s career trajectory stating, “It’s now or never. If you want to crack the top of his weight class, he needs to beat Jose Aldo. It would bring a lot of opportunity for him.”

GSP also highlighted Zahabi’s mental prowess as the best aspect of his fight game, he said: “Zahabi’s No. 1 attribute is his fighting IQ.” Zahabi’s victory at UFC 315 is more than just a personal achievement; it’s a testament to the enduring legacy of Canadian MMA. With St-Pierre in his corner, and his brother Firas Zahabi as his coach, Aiemann embodies the spirit and discipline that have defined Canada’s presence in the UFC. 

With a team like that and carrying his potential, one can see the Canadian side of fighters brewing up their own legacy in the sport. So what’s next for Aiemann Zahabi? As he pens down his next fight, we may see an even improved version of the fighter under the guidance of ‘GSP’. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.