Sean Brady just put the welterweight division on notice with a career-defining win over Leon Edwards at UFC London. The Philadelphia native didn’t simply defeat a former champion; he dominated him. After all, it was the first bout in his career that ‘Rocky’ had been defeated via submission or knockout, making Brady’s victory even more momentous. With such a statement performance, the 32-year-old has confirmed himself as the possible next number one on their rankings. But now the real question is, what happens next?
Well, Joaquin Buckley didn’t waste any time calling his shot. Shortly after Brady’s pervasive victory, ‘New Mansa’ issued a challenge on X (formerly Twitter.) Instead of directly targeting Brady, he started with Kamaru Usman. “If Usman don’t want no smoke, what ya think bout Brady Bunch vs Buck?” It was a planned decision to put ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ in the forefront while maintaining Brady as a backup option.
Joaquin Buckley understands that if Kamaru Usman accepts the fight, he will face a high-profile former champion. But if Usman declines, he may go straight to Brady, who is now one of the division’s hottest names. For Brady, this creates an intriguing dynamic. A bout with Buckley would be a fast-paced, high-risk encounter, but it would not necessarily be a title eliminator. On the other side, if ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ fights Buckley, Brady may find himself waiting for a better opportunity, potentially a direct shot at the belt.
Congrats Sean
If Usman don’t want no smoke
what ya think bout Brady Bunch Vs Buck #UFCLondon
— Joaquin New Mansa Buckley (@Newmansa94) March 22, 2025
In any case, he has no control over his next move right now. The UFC will most likely wait to see how the Usman-Buckley situation plays out before deciding on Brady’s destiny. At the moment, all eyes are focused on Kamaru Usman. If the former champion is willing to face ‘New Mansa’ in the Octagon, Brady’s future becomes uncertain. However, if Kamaru Usman declines, the UFC may be forced to book Brady vs. Buckley, a bout that may shake up the welterweight rankings and propel the winner closer to a championship opportunity. But while we fans are busy here wondering what’s next for Brady, Joe Rogan is finding it hard to digest how the American fighter managed to grab a win against Leon Edwards in the first place.
Joe Rogan’s stunning reaction to Sean Brady submitting Leon Edwards
Joe Rogan had seen it all inside the Octagon, but he was unprepared for what happened at UFC London. Sean Brady didn’t just beat Leon Edwards; he completely shut him down, leaving no room for discussion. From the beginning of the fight, ‘Rocky’ appeared to be a guy looking for answers, but Brady never gave him the chance. The constant pressure, the suffocating grappling—it was the kind of performance that made people question everything they thought they knew about fighters. As the JRE host watched everything unfold, he couldn’t help but wonder what Leon Edwards was up to.
“This doesn’t make sense; horrible idea,” the podcaster said live on his Fight Companion. The shock in his voice was obvious. No one, even Joe Rogan, expected to see a former champion panic wrestle against a superior grappler. But the true surprise came moments later, in round four, when Brady locked in the guillotine. “Oh my goodness, oh my goodness,” Rogan cried repeatedly as Leon Edwards tapped out for the first time in his UFC career. It wasn’t just that Brady won; it was how he did so. A comprehensive shutout of one of the most versatile welterweights in UFC history.
“Sean f—— Brady, holy s—, what a performance,” Rogan stated, unable to control his disbelief. “A shutout against one of the best of all time in the division beats his a– and submits him. F—— unbelievable, man. I’m super impressed.” For a fighter like Edwards, who built his career on perseverance and clean technical prowess, this was an unusual fall. But for Sean Brady, it was the validation of everything he had worked for—a moment that left even the UFC’s most experienced analysts speechless. What did you think of the fight? Did you see the submission coming? Let us know in the comments.
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