UFC fighter David Onama has unexpectedly found himself entangled in the ongoing drama surrounding country music star Zach Bryan. The controversy erupted after Onama mentioned Bryan during his post-fight interview at UFC 309 and later revealed on a podcast that he was prompted to name-drop the “Pink Skies” singer.
Zach Bryan has been at the center of media attention recently, largely due to his split from Barstool Sports personality Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia. LaPaglia has publicly accused Bryan of emotional abuse during their relationship, a claim that has generated significant backlash and discussion.
Amidst all the turmoil, David Onama’s mention of Bryan added fuel to the fire.
Onama’s shout-out came after his victory at UFC 309 during his interview with Joe Rogan. Many were puzzled by the seemingly out-of-nowhere mention of Bryan, prompting questions about whether Onama was a fan of the country star.
During an appearance on SiriusXM’s “Fight Nation” podcast, Onama was asked directly about his connection to Bryan and whether he was a genuine fan.
“To be honest, I didn’t know who Zach Bryan was,” Onama admitted on the podcast. He went on to explain that someone had reached out to his management team, saying that Bryan wanted Onama to give him a shout-out. Onama clarified that he didn’t know much about the singer but agreed to the request.
The podcast host then suggested that the shout-out was more of a promotional move for Bryan, which Onama confirmed. “Exactly, that’s literally what it was,” Onama said, acknowledging that it was simply a request passed along to him by his management.
The clip of Onama’s remarks began to spread rapidly online, especially after Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy picked up on it. Portnoy used the clip to further criticize Bryan, whom he has publicly labeled as “the smallest man.”
Since Bryan’s split with LaPaglia, he has become a frequent target for Barstool, with Portnoy positioning himself as an outspoken critic of the singer.
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In an attempt to clear the air, Onama took to his X account to clarify his involvement in the situation. “Feel like this is getting blown out of proportion,” he wrote. “A promoter offered me comp tickets to one of Zach Bryan’s concerts if I made a shout-out for his upcoming stadium shows. I did it because my teammates love Zach and Zach has always taken care of them when he played in Denver.”
Onama further emphasized that Bryan had not personally contacted him regarding the shout-out. “Zach did not reach out to me at all about this. Was simply supporting someone who always supported my team,” Onama added, hoping to put an end to the speculation about his motives.
The controversy stemmed from Onama’s post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, during which he casually mentioned that he would be back next month to see Zach Bryan. At the time, Bryan was set to play two shows at the Barclays Center, and Onama’s comment raised eyebrows, especially given the context of the ongoing drama involving Bryan and LaPaglia.
In response to Onama’s comments on the podcast, Portnoy took to social media and called Bryan a “pathetic little man.” This incident only served to intensify the feud between Barstool Sports and Zach Bryan, as Portnoy continued to capitalize on any opportunity to criticize the country singer.
Meanwhile, Brianna LaPaglia has continued to reveal more details about her alleged experiences of emotional abuse during her relationship with Bryan, which lasted just over a year. LaPaglia has painted a troubling picture of her time with Bryan, describing instances where he allegedly lashed out at her friends and behaved aggressively.
One of the most disturbing incidents LaPaglia shared involved a confrontation during her birthday. According to LaPaglia, Bryan stood up at a gathering by a fire and began screaming at her friends.
“He stood up at the fire and just started screaming at my friends, ‘You’re not going to be anything, you’re a f–king loser,’ like just the most horrible s–t. ‘You’re never going to make it,’ like, ‘you live off other people,'” LaPaglia recounted.
The unfolding drama has placed Zach Bryan under considerable scrutiny, and David Onama’s involvement, albeit unintended, has only added to the media frenzy. Onama’s attempt to clarify the situation underscores how easily public figures can be caught in controversies not of their own making.
While Onama may have been trying to show support for his teammates, his name-drop of Bryan has placed him in the crosshairs of a much larger, ongoing dispute. For now, the situation remains tense, with all parties attempting to navigate the fallout.
