Sean Brady silenced The O2 Arena by submitting former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the fourth round at UFC London to put himself front and center in the 170-pound championship picture.
Number-five ranked Brady stepped in on short notice after Edwards’ opponent, Jack Della Maddalena, was promoted into a title shot against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315. And the Philadelphia native arrived determined to take full advantage of his opportunity.
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And Brady did exactly that as he used his grappling to completely dominate Edwards throughout their five-round welterweight main event matchup in London.
The opening round saw Edwards start noticeably more aggressively than we saw from him in his title loss to Muhammad, while Brady looked to stand his ground and initiate clinches.
Brady was partially successful, but Edwards was able to shake off the noted grappler, before resuming his striking attack, pot-shotting the American contender with straight punches and low leg kicks.
But, as the fight wore on, Brady’s grappling quickly took over as he took advantage of openings in Rounds 2, 3, and 4 to take Edwards to the mat early. And, once he had the former champion on the mat, he didn’t let him back up until the horn sounded for the end of the round.
And in the fourth round, after another quickfire takedown to start the round, Brady finally made his breakthrough as he finally forced Edwards to tap to a mounted guillotine choke at the 1:39 point.
After his resounding win, Brady chatted with UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping
as he revealed that the call to fight Edwards in London came immediately after the birth of his baby.
“Oh man, this show was amazing,” he said.
“I heard all week people saying I’m too small for 170 (pounds). I was 198 when they weighed me in the back. So I’m not small for welterweight, I’m just short! That’s all right, though.
“To be honest, I literally took this fight the day I got out of the hospital with my wife, with our newborn baby.
“I knew this was a fight that I could do that in. I know I can do that against anybody in the division. I just showed that against one of the most prestigious champions as of recently. So yeah, I think I belong in the top, top three, top one, for sure.”
After a performance like that against the former champion and current number-one contender, a title should could be next for Brady. But the man himself insisted that he hasn’t fixated on that
“I said all week, I wasn’t thinking about it,” he said.
“But it’s pretty cool knowing I’ll be ranked number one on Monday or Tuesday.
“But whenever Dana (White) and Hunter (Campbell) (want me to fight). These guys gave me an amazing opportunity to come out here. I love all the UK fans – sorry for doing that to your boy, but nothing but respect for you guys.
“But yeah, whatever Hunter and Dana want for me next, that’s what we’re gonna do. But I’ve got about a couple weeks to go home and relax with my wife and my newborn.”
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