Sean Brady is skeptical of Leon Edwards` explanations for his recent defeat.
Brady is set to face Edwards in the headliner of UFC London this Saturday. This marks 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 suit American viewers. Edwards and his coach, Dave Lovell, have suggested this timing negatively impacted the former champion. However, Brady believes the outcome would have been the same regardless of the time.
“No, I don’t believe there`s any truth to that,” Brady stated in an interview. “Consider Edwards` second fight with Kamaru Usman. He was losing until he landed that head kick. Even in their third fight, I personally think Usman won. In many of Leon`s fights, he appears to lose motivation when things aren`t going his way, and he seems to ease off.”
Brady continued, “Belal had a great strategy, and I don’t think the time of the fight was a factor. I believe Belal was simply the better fighter that night. My plan is to keep him on the defensive throughout our fight. You can`t allow him to get comfortable and move forward because that’s when he`s most effective. If you watch his fights, when he`s pressured and uncomfortable, he`s a different fighter.”
In another interview, Edwards mentioned that Brady’s fighting style is familiar to him and easier to adjust to compared to Jack Della Maddalena, whom he was originally scheduled to fight. Edwards cited his recent fights against Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, and Belal Muhammad as preparation for grappling-heavy opponents.
Brady agrees that Edwards is likely prepared for a grappling-focused opponent, but he argues that this isn`t necessarily advantageous for Edwards.
“I believe I`m a significantly better grappler than those fighters, in all aspects – submissions, ground and pound, and takedowns,” Brady asserted. “Historically, grappling-heavy styles have been Edwards` weakness, contributing to his losses and close fights that he arguably lost. So, saying he`s used to this style isn`t a strong point. It`s been a problem since his loss to Claudio Silva early in his career, and it was evident again in the Muhammad fight. It`s clearly still an area where he struggles.”
Following his only career defeat to Muhammad at UFC 280 in October 2022, Brady has since secured victories over former title contenders Kelvin Gastelum and Gilbert Burns. The fight against Burns was Brady`s first UFC main event.
Brady, 32, is confident that his approach will lead to the biggest win of his career and position him for a title shot, although that`s not his immediate focus. He recognizes that his victory might disappoint the local fans supporting Edwards.
“My goal is to pressure Leon, keep him on his back foot, and make him uncomfortable for the entire fight, whether it lasts 25 minutes or ends in a finish. I`m determined to leave with a win, even if it means many UK fans will be leaving disappointed,” Brady concluded.
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