Aiemann Zahabi Reveals Broken Forearm Suffered Mid-Fight in Win Over Marlon Vera

Fresh off the biggest win of his UFC career, Aiemann Zahabi disclosed he fought through a broken forearm to edge Marlon Vera by split decision at UFC Fight Night 262 then underwent surgery less than 48 hours later.

Zahabi (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) matched his career-best seven-fight winning streak with the victory at Rogers Arena, but says the triumph came at a steep price.

“Not only did I get dropped in Round 2, but my forearm broke in Round 2,” Zahabi said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “I kept such a poker face… kept using my jab, kept doing everything as if nothing was broken.”

He later provided an X-ray to confirm the fracture. Zahabi described feeling a sudden “tingle” mid-round, then gutting through Vera’s follow-up onslaught to reach the final frame.

Scorecards and Swing Round

Judges unanimously awarded Round 2 to Vera (21-11-1 MMA, 15-10 UFC) after he dropped Zahabi with a left hand. Zahabi swept Round 3 across all three cards, with the split verdict hinging on a closely contested Round 1, where two judges sided with the Canadian.

“People keep counting me out and think I’m soft,” Zahabi said. “I even outstruck him in Round 2 after getting dropped and breaking my arm… I’m devoted to becoming champion.”

Surgery on Monday

Zahabi returned to Montréal and visited Dr. Sebastian Simard at the Centre d’excellence en orthopédie de Montréal (CEOM) on Monday. After imaging and evaluation, he opted for surgery the same day.

“I landed on Sunday, Monday I got my tests done, and I got the surgery on Monday as well,” he said.

A timetable for Zahabi’s return will depend on post-op recovery and rehab progress. The 135-pound contender’s gritty performance and seven straight wins. Has position him for a ranked opportunity once he’s cleared to resume training.

Zahabi didn’t just beat a perennial contender he did it one-armed. Finishing strong and adding serious momentum to his quiet climb at bantamweight.