Sean Brady is skeptical of Leon Edwards` explanations for his recent defeat.
Brady is set to face Edwards in the main event at UFC London this Saturday. This will be Edwards` first fight since losing his welterweight title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304.
Much discussion has revolved around the timing of the Edwards-Muhammad fight, which started in the early hours in the UK to accommodate American viewers. Edwards and his coach, Dave Lovell, have suggested this timing negatively affected the former champion. However, Brady believes the outcome would have been the same regardless of when the fight took place.
“I don’t believe there’s any truth to that,” Brady stated in an interview with MMA Fighting. “If you consider Edwards` second fight with Kamaru Usman, he was losing until he landed that head kick. He was on the verge of defeat until that moment.”
“Even in their third fight, I personally think Usman was the victor. Observing many of Leon’s fights, he seems to lose motivation when things don`t go his way, and his intensity drops. Belal had an excellent strategy, and I don’t think the time zone or fight time was a factor. I believe Belal was simply the superior fighter that night.”
“My strategy is to keep him on the defensive throughout the fight. Once he gets comfortable moving forward, he becomes most effective. Reviewing his fights, when he`s pressured and made uncomfortable, he`s a different fighter.”
In a separate interview with MMA Fighting, Edwards mentioned that Brady’s fighting style is familiar to him and that adapting to Brady was easier than preparing for Jack Della Maddalena, his original opponent. Della Maddalena is now scheduled to fight Muhammad for the title at UFC 315 in May. Edwards` recent opponents include Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, and Belal Muhammad, all of whom have grappling backgrounds.
Brady agrees that Edwards has likely been preparing for grappling-heavy fighters, but he argues that this isn`t necessarily advantageous for Edwards.
“I think I am a significantly better grappler than all those fighters, across all aspects of grappling—submissions, ground and pound, and takedowns,” Brady asserted. “Historically, grappling-focused opponents have been Edwards` downfall, leading to losses and close fights that he arguably lost. So, it`s not wise for him to suggest he`s seen it all before. This style clearly remains a challenge for him.”
“It was evident early in his career with his loss to Claudio Silva, and again recently against Belal. This vulnerability is still present.”
Since his only career defeat to Muhammad at UFC 280 in October 2022, Brady has rebounded with victories over former title contenders Kelvin Gastelum and Gilbert Burns, with the Burns fight being his first UFC main event.
The 32-year-old Brady is confident in his game plan to secure the biggest win of his career, potentially positioning him for a title shot, although that is not his immediate focus. He recognizes that his victory over Edwards, while beneficial for his career, might disappoint the local fans.
“I will push forward, put Leon on the back foot, and make him uncomfortable for the entire 25 minutes or until I secure a finish. I am determined to leave with a win, even if it means many UK fans will leave disappointed,” Brady concluded.
