Sean Brady Submits Leon Edwards in Shocking UFC London Upset

On March 22, 2025, the O2 Arena in London played host to a seismic shift in the UFC welterweight division as Sean Brady delivered a career-defining performance, submitting former champion Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC Fight Night 255. The stunning fourth-round finish not only snapped Edwards’ remarkable nine-year unbeaten streak but also thrust Brady into the spotlight as a legitimate title contender, reshaping the 170-pound landscape in a fight that few saw coming.

The Stakes: A Crossroads for Welterweight Glory

Entering UFC London, the matchup carried massive implications. Edwards, ranked No. 3 in the welterweight division with a record of 22-4 (14-3 UFC), was on a redemption arc after losing his title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in July 2024. That defeat, a unanimous decision in Manchester, ended his 13-fight unbeaten run and left him determined to reclaim his spot atop the division. Facing him was Sean Brady, ranked No. 5 with a 17-1 record (7-1 UFC), a grappling phenom riding a two-fight win streak after his only loss—to Muhammad in 2022. A win for Edwards could have fast-tracked him to a rematch with Muhammad, while a Brady victory promised to vault him into the championship conversation.

The buildup was electric. Edwards, a Birmingham native, enjoyed fervent home support, with the O2 crowd chanting “Rocky” as he shadowboxed his way to the Octagon. Brady, the Philadelphia native, walked out to a chorus of boos, embracing the villain role with a steely focus. Posts on X from @ufc hyped the clash of “Top 5 welterweights,” setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown on March 22.

The Fight: Brady’s Grappling Masterclass

From the opening bell, Brady signaled his intent to impose his wrestling pedigree on Edwards, a fighter renowned for his crisp striking and clinch work. Round one saw Edwards land early, his signature left elbow and body kicks keeping Brady at bay. But Brady’s pressure was relentless. Midway through the round, he shot a double-leg takedown, planting Edwards on the canvas and working to a dominant position. Edwards scrambled back to his feet, but the tone was set—Brady wasn’t here to trade punches.

The second round mirrored the first. Edwards found moments of success, tagging Brady with a sharp jab-cross combo that bloodied the American’s nose, but Brady’s response was a thunderous single-leg that slammed Edwards against the fence. For over two minutes, Brady controlled Edwards on the ground, landing short elbows and thwarting escape attempts. The London crowd grew restless, their chants unable to lift their champion as Brady’s grappling suffocated Edwards’ rhythm.

Round three was Edwards’ best. Sensing urgency, he stuffed an early takedown and unleashed a flurry—his left high kick grazed Brady’s temple, followed by a stinging uppercut. The O2 erupted, believing “Rocky” had turned the tide. But Brady weathered the storm, clinching to slow the pace and landing a sneaky knee to the body before securing another takedown late in the frame. Edwards survived, but the scorecards likely favored Brady’s control.

The fourth round proved decisive. Brady, undeterred, shot for yet another takedown just 40 seconds in, dragging Edwards down with a textbook chain-wrestling sequence. This time, he capitalized fully. Transitioning to full mount, Brady rained down punches, forcing Edwards to give up his back. With clinical precision, Brady locked in a guillotine choke as Edwards rolled to escape. At 2:17 of the round, Edwards tapped out—the first submission loss of his career—silencing the stunned O2 Arena. The official result: Sean Brady defeats Leon Edwards via submission (guillotine choke), Round 4, 2:17.

Standout Moments and Key Performances

Sean Brady’s Grappling Dominance: Brady’s 4 for 8 takedown success (per unofficial stats circulating on X) and over 10 minutes of control time showcased his elite wrestling. His ability to neutralize Edwards’ striking with relentless pressure earned him praise as a “masterclass” performer, as one X user (@easytyga) noted post-fight.
Leon Edwards’ Struggle: Edwards landed 52 significant strikes to Brady’s 34 (estimated from live commentary), but his vaunted takedown defense—previously a strength against Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington—crumbled. His 30% takedown defense rate in this fight exposed a glaring weakness, as highlighted by @DeanGajraj on X.
The Finish: The guillotine choke, a rarity in Edwards’ losses, underscored Brady’s adaptability. It was a moment of brilliance that flipped the script on a fighter who’d only been finished once before (a 2011 TKO).

Post-Fight Fallout

Brady’s victory sent shockwaves through the MMA world. Speaking to Michael Bisping in the Octagon, he called out welterweight champion Belal Muhammad: “I beat the guy who beat you, Belal. Let’s run it back—I’m coming for that belt.” His record now 18-1, Brady’s stock soared, with fans and analysts pegging him as the next title challenger after Muhammad defends against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 on May 10.

Edwards, visibly dejected, offered no excuses beyond a nod to Brady’s skill: “He was the better man tonight. I’ll be back.” His coach, Dave Lovell, later hinted at the lingering effects of the UFC 304 loss—blaming a 5 a.m. start time for disrupting Edwards’ rhythm—but the narrative shifted to Brady’s brilliance. Edwards falls to 22-5, facing a longer road back to title contention.

Muhammad, watching from afar, took to X (@bullyb170) to troll Edwards: “Leon’s still on 5 a.m. time zone,” and “Sean copied my homework,” referencing his own wrestling-heavy win over Edwards. The champ’s jabs added fuel to a potential Brady-Muhammad rematch, while Edwards must now regroup—perhaps against a top-10 foe like Shavkat Rakhmonov or Ian Garry.

The Bigger Picture

This upset reverberates beyond London. Brady’s win disrupts the welterweight pecking order, where Edwards was seen as a gatekeeper to the title. It also reignites debates about Edwards’ vulnerabilities—his takedown defense, once a footnote, is now a glaring target. For Brady, a former Cage Fury FC champion with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, this victory validates years of grinding, turning a 2022 loss into a springboard to stardom.

As the UFC heads into its next pay-per-view cycle, the welterweight division feels wide open. Brady’s submission of Edwards—a feat neither Usman nor Covington achieved—marks him as a new threat. For the 16,935 fans who packed the O2 (per early attendance reports), it was a bitter pill, but for MMA globally, it’s a thrilling twist. On March 22, 2025, Sean Brady didn’t just win a fight—he announced his arrival, and the welterweight world took notice.