During UFC 309, featherweight competitor David Onama gave a shoutout to country singer Zach Bryan, which was later revealed to be orchestrated by a promoter offering concert tickets, leading to speculation it was intended to provoke Bryan’s ex-girlfriend, Brianna LaPaglia, who was attending the event.
Country singer Zach Bryan got an unexpected mention during UFC 309. But, surprise! It might’ve been a setup aimed at his ex-girlfriend, who was attending the event.
In a bizarre twist from UFC’s latest Madison Square Garden showdown, featherweight fighter David Onama grabbed the mic after beating Roberto Romero. He announced plans to return to NYC for one of Bryan’s concerts. Oddly specific, right?
“I want to come back here next month to watch — what’s it called? — Zach Bryan for the concert,” Onama declared to Joe Rogan. Fun fact: Bryan’s actually performing in Brooklyn soon.
Turns out, Bryan’s ex, Brianna LaPaglia, was at her first UFC event that night. Their breakup? Messy. Bryan spilled the beans on Instagram, while LaPaglia fired back on her Barstool podcast, accusing him of manipulation and emotional abuse.
LaPaglia co-hosts the BFF podcast with Barstool founder Dave Portnoy. He went off after hearing Onama admit on another podcast that he didn’t even know who Bryan was. Turns out, Onama’s more of a Morgan Wallen fan!
“This small little 4-foot-8 fcking psychopath is that pathetic and that lost where they got to beg UFC guys for a shout-out just to try to rub it in Bri’s face?" Portnoy ranted. "Like Brianna gives a fck.”
Portnoy didn’t hold back. “We get you’re world famous. But everybody knows you’re a f*cking piece of shit loser," he continued. "You look like the smallest man who ever lived.”
As the drama escalated, Onama released a statement explaining his side of the story. “Hey guys, feel like this is getting blown out of proportion,” he tweeted.
“A promoter offered me comp tickets to one of Zach Bryan’s concerts if I made a shout out,” Onama explained. “I did it because my teammates love Zach and Zach has always taken care of them when he played Denver.”
“Zach did not reach out to me at all about this,” he clarified. “Was simply supporting someone who always supported my team.” And there you have it—just another day in the wild world of MMA and country music!