Sean Brady achieved a historic victory by becoming the first fighter to finish Leon Edwards, securing a fourth-round guillotine choke at UFC London. This win, Brady argues, was even more decisive than Belal Muhammad`s prior decision victory over Edwards.
Belal Muhammad, the current welterweight champion, had previously defeated Edwards over five rounds. Following Brady`s win, Muhammad suggested on social media that Brady had copied his strategy.
Brady quickly responded, asserting the superiority of his performance.
“I believe I performed much better than Belal did,” Brady stated at the post-fight press conference. “Belal, in my opinion, lost rounds and was controlled on his back for an entire round. I think their fight was a close 3-2. I dominated Leon in every round, something no one has accomplished before. Then I finished him, making him submit in front of his hometown crowd.”
Brady further emphasized his confidence, saying, “If we were fighting in Philadelphia, you wouldn’t make me quit in front of my fans. I’d put you to sleep. Remember that.”
While acknowledging similarities in their grappling-focused approaches against Edwards, Brady highlighted his more effective execution.
“That’s the blueprint to defeat Leon,” Brady explained. “His past fights have shown the way, and I simply executed it better than anyone else. Even when Edwards attempted takedowns, despite his technical skills, he tends to falter under pressure. I could sense him breaking.”
“I knew the fight was ending when he tried to grapple because that was the last place he wanted to be. Once he engaged in grappling, I knew it would be over quickly.”
This submission victory marks Brady’s third consecutive win since his only career defeat against Muhammad via knockout in 2022.
Brady now views his loss to Muhammad in 2022 in a positive light, especially considering Muhammad`s subsequent championship success.
“Belal has an impressive record,” Brady commented. “He has defeated me and many other strong opponents. While some criticize my loss to him, it has been a beneficial experience. I am currently on a strong winning streak, and I am the most recent fighter to finish Leon. I am in a good position.”
“I have been supporting Belal since his victory over me. His success enhances the significance of my loss to him. He defeated Leon and is now scheduled to fight Jack Della Maddalena, who is a formidable opponent. I was preparing to fight Jack previously, so I am aware of his capabilities. Jack possesses knockout power against anyone. However, it`s unwise to bet against Belal. He consistently finds ways to win, and I anticipate him winning that fight. Ideally, I would like him to be champion when we rematch, but if he happens to lose, I would gladly fight him for the number one contender spot. There are various possibilities.”
Following his dominant performance against Edwards, Brady has positioned himself as a strong contender for a title shot.
The primary obstacle in his path is likely Shavkat Rakhmonov, who was initially slated for a title fight last December before Muhammad withdrew due to injury. When Muhammad was ready to compete in May, Rakhmonov was injured, leading to Jack Della Maddalena stepping in.
The next title challenger after Muhammad versus Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10 remains undecided. However, Brady believes his victory over Edwards was significantly more compelling than Rakhmonov’s narrow win against Ian Machado Garry.
“You tell me, is defeating Leon in his hometown a statement? I believe so,” Brady stated. “Shavkat’s recent performance against Ian wasn’t exceptional. Jack was losing to Gilbert Burns in his previous fight before turning it around. I dominated both Gilbert Burns and Leon Edwards. Therefore, I believe I am deserving of a title shot.”
“Ultimately, the UFC makes these decisions. But if you compare my recent victories to Shavkat’s, I believe I have a strong case. My last two wins are against Gilbert Burns and Leon Edwards, while his are against Stephen Thompson and Ian Garry. I am building a strong record. I aim to continue adding significant names to my resume and see what unfolds.”
Marcus Blakely