Sean Brady achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first fighter to defeat Leon Edwards by finish, securing a fourth-round guillotine choke in their UFC London main event. This victory, according to Brady, surpasses the performance of current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in a similar matchup eight months prior.
Muhammad`s title-winning performance against Edwards was characterized by control and a decision victory after five rounds. Following Brady`s fight, Muhammad remarked on social media about Brady`s similar grappling strategy against Edwards.
Brady quickly responded to Muhammad, highlighting the contrasting outcomes of their respective fights against Edwards.
“I believe my performance was significantly better than Belal`s,” Brady stated at the UFC London post-fight press conference. “I think Belal lost a couple of rounds and was on his back for an entire round. I believe their fight was scored 3-2. In contrast, I dominated Leon in every round and finished him, something no one else has done, especially in his hometown.”
“If we were fighting in Philadelphia, you wouldn`t make me quit in front of my own fans, I can assure you of that. Remember that,” Brady added.
Brady acknowledged the similarity in strategy to Muhammad`s approach against Edwards, but emphasized a superior execution.
“That`s the proven method to defeat Leon,” Brady explained. “The strategy has been evident in many of his fights, and I simply executed it more effectively than anyone else. Despite Edwards` technical skills, when faced with a truly challenging fight, he tends to falter, and I could sense him breaking.”
“I knew the fight was nearing its end when he attempted a takedown because grappling with me was the last thing he wanted. Once he engaged in grappling, I was confident in the outcome.”
This submission victory marks Brady`s third consecutive win since his only career loss to Muhammad via knockout in 2022.
Brady believes this loss has become less significant in retrospect, considering Muhammad`s subsequent championship success.
“Looking at Belal`s record, it`s incredibly impressive,” Brady commented. “He has a victory over me and many other strong opponents. While I received criticism for losing to him, that loss has been ultimately beneficial for my growth. I`m currently on a strong winning streak, and I`m the only fighter to finish Leon. I`m in a good position.”
“I`ve been supportive of Belal since he defeated me. His success reflects well on my loss to him. He defeated Leon and is now scheduled to fight Jack Della Maddalena, a very formidable opponent. I was preparing to fight Jack previously and understand his capabilities. Jack has knockout power against anyone. However, it`s unwise to bet against Belal. He consistently finds ways to win, and I anticipate he`ll win this fight as well. Ideally, I`d like him to be champion when we rematch, but even if he loses, I`d be willing to fight him for the No. 1 contender spot. There are various options available.”
Brady`s recent victory over Edwards has positioned him as a strong contender for a title shot in the near future.
The primary obstacle in his path is likely Shavkat Rakhmonov, who was initially slated for a title shot last December before Muhammad withdrew due to injury. Upon Muhammad`s recovery in May, Rakhmonov was also injured, leading to Jack Della Maddalena stepping in.
The next title challenger after Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10 remains uncertain. However, Brady believes his dominant victory over Edwards is significantly more compelling than Rakhmonov`s narrow win against Ian Machado Garry in his last fight.
“You tell me, is defeating Leon in his hometown a statement? I believe so,” Brady asserted. “Comparing Ian`s recent performance and Shavkat`s less impressive showing, and considering Jack`s fight where he was losing to Gilbert Burns before his comeback, I`ve dominated both Gilbert Burns and Leon Edwards. I believe I`m right in contention.”
“Ultimately, the UFC makes these decisions. But when you compare my recent opponents and victories to Shavkat`s, I believe I have a strong argument. Gilbert Burns and Leon Edwards are my last two wins, while his last two were Stephen Thompson and Ian Garry. I`m building a solid record and aim to continue adding significant names to my resume and see what transpires.”
