Every so often, combat sports produce a family story that goes beyond blood. One where two brothers end up on either side of the corner, both working toward the same result.
The Zahabi brothers from Montreal are a perfect example of this. Aiemann Zahabi has steadily climbed the UFC ranks in the Bantamweight division, posting a 14-2 record, and will enter his next fight on a seven-fight winning streak vs. Sean O’Malley at the UFC White House Event.
Meanwhile, his older brother, Firas Zahabi, is the man behind producing some of the biggest martial arts stars. He is the head coach and owner of Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada.
This is not like every other gym in the state. It’s the same gym where Georges St-Pierre built his legendary UFC career and became one of the sport’s all-time greats. Today, Firas is in Aiemann’s corner for every fight, while Aiemann has become the most prominent active fighter representing Firas and the team.
While Firas is often present in Aiemann’s corner, UFC fans get curious about whether the two are related. The answer is YES. Aiemann Zahabi is Firas Zahabi’s younger brother. He was born seven years and ten months after Firas, and both grew up in the same Lebanese-Canadian family in Laval, Quebec.
Who is Firas Zahabi? Aiemann Zahabi’s Older Brother and Georges St-Pierre’s Coach
Firas Zahabi is the head coach & owner of the Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada. The Gym is famous for producing some world-class mixed martial artists, including the two-division world champion and Mount Rushmore of UFC, Georges St-Pierre.
But the interesting part is, Firas did not grow up dreaming of a career in martial arts. As a teenager in Quebec, his focus was on American football. Fighting entered the picture much later, when he was 18 years old.
Then how did it all switch? Well, one fine day Firas got fascinated watching Royce Gracie winning fights with Brazilian jiu-jitsu at UFC 2. Straightaway, with motivation in his head, he went to Tristar Gym in Montreal and began training with Angelo Exarhakos, a Renzo Gracie purple belt.
Speaking to sherdog, Firas said:
“I saw Royce Gracie like everybody else, and I was shocked. I was in awe that this little guy can beat up these bigger, muscular guys. I was desperately looking for a gym, and there was no gym; by chance, I found a place that was hosting a tournament and I went to the tournament; I watched the tournament. I saw some guys who were doing really good and asked them where they trained. That’s how I found Angelo Exeherakos, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt.”
Later, in the same gym, he started helping as a part-time coach after Exarchos’ exit. While managing Tristar, Zahabi finished a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Concordia University in Montreal.
Zahabi’s public profile climbed after UFC 69 in April 2007, when Georges St-Pierre lost the welterweight title to Matt Serra in a massive upset. St-Pierre needed a reset and a new head coach. Both men came from Quebec and had Tristar links, and their meeting turned into one of MMA’s most consequential partnerships.
Under Zahabi’s guidance, St-Pierre won the welterweight title back, defended it nine times, and later won the middleweight title in 2017. Zahabi was in his corner for every one of those fights.
Who is Aiemann Zahabi? Firas Zahabi’s Younger Brother and UFC Bantamweight Divison Star
Aiemann Zahabi is Firas Zahabi’s younger brother. He is a mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division in the UFC promotion. Although his brother was on the MMA path, his journey to professional fighting was not a straight line.
Aiemann tried multiple martial arts as a child, competed in karate enough to earn a black belt, and did not commit fully to MMA until his second year of college. At one point, Georges St-Pierre personally graded him before the competition.
His UFC debut came in 2017 against Reginaldo Vieira at UFC Fight Night, and Zahabi won by unanimous decision, establishing his presence.
After coming out of a successful gym and elite guidance, Aiemann’s career took a hiatus at UFC on ESPN 25 in 2021. He got knocked out by Ricardo Ramos, then lost to Vince Morales, leaving him 0-2 in the octagon since his debut win.
What followed was one of the more convincing rebuilding runs in the bantamweight division. Zahabi won seven consecutive fights between February 2021 and October 2025.
Looking back on that stretch, Aiemann explained MMA Knockout:
“Then, I climbed up throughout the UFC one fight at a time. I trained in the dark, basically. Like, I’m underground, under the radar, and I just kept getting better every fight… It’s nice to just make my name over the years and now to cap it off over a big-time veteran like Pedro Munhoz. I feel like I outclassed him. I really feel like I made my mark now.” (Timestamp: 0:38-1:10)
His current professional record stands at 14 wins and 2 losses. As of June 2026, he is scheduled to face No. 2-ranked Sean O’Malley at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14. This would be the most significant fight of his career to date.
How Firas Shaped Aiemann’s MMA Career at Tristar Gym
Aiemann Zahabi has trained exclusively at Tristar Gym, which his brother owns. That arrangement sounds straightforward, but the reality of it? Growing up around that environment had its advantages, but it also came with expectations. Nobody was going to hand Aiemann anything because of his last name. If anything, the standards were even higher.
Firas did not make it easier for Aiemann because of the family relationship. If anything, the opposite was true. Firas increased the intensity of Aiemann’s training specifically to pre-empt any accusation of favoritism.
Day after day, he trained in the same room as champions and contenders. Every sparring session, every preparation camp, and every corner call has had to function at the same level it did for GSP and Rory MacDonald.
Firas remains in the corner for every Aiemann fight. According to Aiemann, their communication outside the gym is often minimal, not because of distance but because of how well they read each other. They’ve been around each other long enough that less needs to be said.
