UFC London Main Event: Edwards vs. Brady – Fighting for Title Contention

After a break of almost two years, UFC is back in London.

This Saturday, the UFC returns to the O2 Arena for UFC London. The main event features former welterweight champion Leon Edwards, who is stepping back into the octagon for the first time since losing his title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304. He will face rising contender Sean Brady in a crucial match.

What is at stake in this important main event, and what else is exciting about UFC’s return to London? Alexander K. Lee, Mike Heck, and Jed Meshew discussed the biggest talking points for this Saturday’s event in London.

Heck: The welterweight championship picture is heavily influenced by this fight.

For Leon Edwards, fighting in his hometown as the main event after losing his title to Belal Muhammad is a high-pressure situation. A loss could be very damaging to his title hopes. The UFC initially hesitated to give him a title shot, but he earned it, winning the championship in a memorable fight and then defending it twice against Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. However, Muhammad then defeated Edwards for the title.

Edwards is now fighting in his home country again, but against a less famous opponent. Another loss for Edwards might mean he won’t get another chance at the welterweight title.

For Brady, who is not as well-known, the situation is similar to others before him. He needs to keep winning to get a title shot. Adding to the challenge, Muhammad has already defeated him decisively. A win against Edwards would significantly boost his title chances, but a loss would set him back considerably. However, even being among the top fighters in the world is a significant achievement.

Meshew: This is essentially a title eliminator fight.

Edwards is not only a former champion but also currently ranked as the No. 1 welterweight contender in the UFC. Brady is ranked No. 5 and has only one loss, which was against Muhammad. Under normal circumstances, this fight would clearly determine the next title challenger. However, the welterweight division in 2025 is complex.

The main complication is Shavkat Rakhmonov. Regardless of the outcome of this fight or the title fight between Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, Rakhmonov is likely next in line for a title shot. This means the winner of Edwards vs. Brady might have to wait.

Furthermore, Islam Makhachev, the lightweight champion, is interested in competing for a second title. If Muhammad loses his belt, the UFC might prioritize a fight between Makhachev and the new champion, given Makhachev’s star power.

Considering these obstacles, the winner of Saturday’s fight will probably need one more victory to secure a title shot. Fortunately, there are suitable opponents, such as Ian Machado Garry and Joaquin Buckley, who are also close to title contention. The winner of Edwards vs. Brady could face one of them in a clear title eliminator fight, possibly as a supporting bout for Rakhmonov’s title shot later in the year.

Lee: They are fighting for fan appreciation, which is valuable in itself.

Realistically, Edwards deserves another shot at Muhammad if he wins convincingly against Brady. While some fans may not be eager for another Muhammad-Edwards fight, Edwards had a long unbeaten streak before losing the title and has two wins over Usman. Is it fair to make him work his way back to the top again?

Fairness is debatable in this sport. The best Edwards can hope for is to impress the London crowd and raise his profile on March 22nd. He likely needs another win regardless (due to Rakhmonov’s position), so a dominant win over Brady would be beneficial for his career.

For Brady, winning could significantly shake up the welterweight division. It’s an opportunity for him to break into the top echelon of the division.

Meshew: Actually, I believe the winner’s next fight could be for the title, eventually.

The light heavyweight division recently became more open when Magomed Ankalaev defeated Alex Pereira. Before that, Pereira was the champion, and there were talks of him moving to heavyweight. Now, a rematch seems likely, putting heavyweight plans on hold.

This is good news for Ulberg and Blachowicz. While they might be behind Pereira for the next title shot, the path becomes clearer after that. For Ulberg, a win would extend his winning streak to eight fights, making him a fresh contender in the division. Blachowicz, a former champion who gave Ankalaev and Pereira tough fights, could also get another title shot with an impressive win on Saturday.

Lee: Yes.

Pereira will likely get an immediate rematch whenever he wants. If he chooses to take a break, Blachowicz could step in. Blachowicz’s history with Ankalaev adds intrigue to a rematch. Ulberg, with his exciting style and fresh appeal, is also a strong contender should he beat Blachowicz at UFC London. He is marketable and a new challenger, which the UFC favors.

Neither fighter is guaranteed anything, but Ulberg might benefit more from a win due to the factors mentioned. The fight’s outcome will influence the matchmakers’ decisions. If Blachowicz wins by grappling or Ulberg wins a close decision, they might both have to wait for the Pereira-Ankalaev rematch.

Heck: Probably not immediately after UFC 313.

While Ankalaev’s title win over Pereira was significant, it slightly reduces the immediate title chances for Blachowicz and Ulberg. If Pereira had won, the winner of their fight might have been next. But with Ankalaev as the new champion, a rematch with Pereira is almost certain, likely around October in Abu Dhabi. This is a long wait, especially with other light heavyweight fights like Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree upcoming.

Blachowicz may have lost more ground than Ulberg. Dana White disliked Ankalaev’s first fight with Blachowicz, making a rematch less appealing to the UFC. The winner of Blachowicz vs. Ulberg will be in a good position but will probably need another fight before a title shot.

Lee: Trivia question: Which heavyweight has the longest active win streak in the UFC right now?

I’ll wait.

It’s Mick Parkin! Not Tom Aspinall or Jon Jones, but Parkin, who is 4-0 in the UFC and 10-0 overall. Parkin is a rising heavyweight. Technically, Waldo Cortes-Acosta is tied with him, highlighting the current heavyweight landscape. Parkin could further establish himself by defeating veteran Marcin Tybura.

It’s possible Parkin could contend for the UFC heavyweight title in 2025. Jones is inactive, Aspinall will likely defend his interim title soon, and if Parkin can extend his win streak to six by summer, he could face Aspinall for the championship.

Parkin vs. Tybura might be one of the most important fights at UFC London in terms of future title implications.

Heck: Molly McCann is a key fighter for UK events.

McCann is very popular at these UK events and is a fan favorite. She was originally scheduled to fight a less experienced opponent but now faces a tougher debutante who recently had a strong win on Dana White’s Contender Series.

McCann’s UFC job might not be in immediate danger after losing three of her last four fights, but another loss would significantly diminish fan support. This is a crucial fight for McCann, and her storyline is compelling.

Meshew: Lone’er Kavanagh is a fighter to watch.

Kavanagh is making his second UFC appearance after a successful debut win in November. He is a Cage Warriors product and was highly rated coming off Contender Series. Many people are very optimistic about Kavanagh’s potential in the flyweight division.

Kavanagh is energetic and explosive but focused. He has good technique, defense, excellent kicks, and composure. He has the qualities of a future title challenger and is only 25 years old.

This Saturday, he fights Felipe dos Santos, a decent prospect who has already faced tough competition in the UFC. Dos Santos gave Manel Kape a difficult fight in his UFC debut, so he will be a strong test for Kavanagh.

This is a highly anticipated matchup.