UFC London LIVE: Results and reaction as Leon Edwards is submitted by Sean Brady

Edwards may be out of the title picture for good after he suffered back-to-back losses

Leon Edwards suffers gut-wrenching submission loss to Sean Brady at UFC London

Leon Edwards was submitted by Sean Brady on his return from losing his UFC welterweight title last summer in the main event of UFC London.

After a bright start by ‘Rocky’, Brady dominated on the ground from the second round onwards and tapped out the former champ early in the fourth round.

It puts Brady very much in the mix for a title shot down the line but may leave Edwards in the wilderness for good now, with back-to-back losses against high-level grapplers proving detrimental to his stock.

Liverpudlian star “Meatball” Molly McCann also grabbed the headlines after she retired following her loss to Alexia Thainara, while Nathaniel Wood, Kevin Holland and Carlos Ulberg also picked up big wins.

Relive the action and reaction from the UFC London main card, below:

UFC London LIVE

• Leon Edwards submitted by Sean Brady in UFC London main event
• ‘JDM’ challenges Belal Muhammad in May; Brady could face winner
• Carlos Ulberg beats ex-champion Jan Blachowicz at light heavyweight
• Molly McCann retires after suffering defeat to Alexia Thainara
• Nathaniel Wood picks up dominant decision in main card opener

[22 March 2025 23:04 · Will Castle]

UFC London LIVE: Leon Edwards vs Sean Brady

Round one

WE ARE UNDERWAY! No glove-touch, this feels like bad blood.

Early pressure from Leon as he clips with a left under the chin. Edwards gets into the clinch where he can be dangerous - but as they separate, Brady lands a nice one-two combo.

Edwards comes back with a few punches of his own before Brady gets Rocky against the cage. After getting away from the fence, Brady lands his first takedown of the night. Only 20 seconds to do anything with it though as the first ends on the mat

[22 March 2025 22:50 · Will Castle]

Leon Edwards opponent Sean Brady makes vicious threat ahead of UFC London clash

Sean Brady has vowed to viciously punish Leon Edwards for focusing more on a future title shot than the challenge at hand ahead of UFC London.

Brady takes on the former welterweight champion at the O2 Arena on Saturday, a bout the American signed on late notice after Edwards’s opponent Jack Della Maddalena was fast-tracked to a title shot.

Nevertheless, the BJJ specialist comes into the fight as the favourite and will look to pick the same holes in Edwards’s game as were exposed by Belal Muhammad last summer, when he dethroned the Birmingham native.

[22 March 2025 22:49 · Will Castle]

Main event time!

It’s time for your UFC London headliner, folks!

Leon Edwards returns to the cage for the first time since losing his welterweight title to Belal Muhammad last summer as he takes on BJJ specialist Sean Brady.

This could be make or break for Edwards if he ever wants to fight for gold again.

Edwards likes it in London and will hope the partisan crowd can will him back towards number one contendership.

This is going to have MASSIVE ramifications on welterweight. Don’t go anywhere.

[22 March 2025 22:46 · Will Castle]

UFC London LIVE: Jan Blachowicz vs Carlos Ulberg

Round three

Early leg kick from Blachowicz gets a notable reaction from Ulberg. That clearly hurt.

He responds with a one-two that knocks Blachowicz’s head towards the fence as the ex-champ momentarily goes on the retreat.

Then it turns back-and-forth as Ulberg’s spit-spraying hook is met with another heavy shot by the Pole. Blachowicz then connects with a strong overhand and a vicious body kick to go into the final minute on the offensive.

He lands a really nice high-kick on the nose of Ulberg, maybe doesn’t get all of it. Blachowicz then enjoys a final flurry after the slapper sounds, connecting with two big shots but they’re again eaten up by Ulberg.

No knockout, but a fun fight nonetheless. We go to a decision...

Carlos Ulberg def. Jan Blachowicz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Not sure about that result - and the crowd aren’t particularly happy about it either. Very close fight. If nothing else, Blachowicz has proved he isn’t a goner just yet, even at 42.

(Getty Images)

[22 March 2025 22:36 · Will Castle]

UFC London LIVE: Jan Blachowicz vs Carlos Ulberg

Round two

Ulberg and Blachowicz exchange a friendly cross-cage exchange before the second gets underway. Always nice to see.

Ulberg goes back to working the legs before Blachowicz charges at him, missing and hitting the fence. Blachowicz then fakes the head kick and lands a nice left hook.

Jan’s high leg kick then clips Ulberg’s cup - no over-reaction, he takes a second and we’re back in the action.

They largely keep their distance for the remainder of the round, clipping with shots here and there. They trade right hooks as the slapper sounds, and we’re going to a third.

[22 March 2025 22:30 · Will Castle]

UFC London LIVE: Jan Blachowicz vs Carlos Ulberg

Round one

This feels like it could be special. Very Blachowicz-partisan crowd, just for the record.

Both men test the waters early doors as Ulberg connects with a nice body kick. He keeps going for the low kicks, some checked, some not - before clipping Blachowicz with a nice right.

Blachowicz responds with a headkick that lands nicely on the temple, eaten by Ulberg. The Kiwi then swings for the fences but the Pole evades the attack well. He returns fire by chopping the wood as the round comes to a close.

[22 March 2025 22:21 · Will Castle]

UFC London LIVE: Jan Blachowicz vs Carlos Ulberg

It’s time for your co-main event.

Former light heavyweight champ Jan Blachowicz returns to the cage after a two-year absence, taking on rising star Carlos Ulberg.

This has Fight of the Night potential, no doubt. Set the stage for the headliners, steal the show.

[22 March 2025 22:16 · Will Castle]

Tom Aspinall gets the cheer of the night

No surprise that when, at long last, Tom Aspinall appeared on the big screen, he was getting all the love.

Stay tuned for Dana White’s press conference later, where the topic of his fight with Jon Jones will surely come up.

Tom Aspinall holding the interim UFC heavyweight title (Getty Images)

[22 March 2025 22:12 · Will Castle]

Kevin Holland: "Next week works"

Kevin Holland has just said he’d happily fight again next week after going to a three-round war with Gunnar Nelson.

That man’s work ethic is just relentless!

[22 March 2025 22:10 · Will Castle]

UFC London LIVE: Gunnar Nelson vs Kevin Holland

Round three

Both fighters go punch-for-punch for the first minute as they get up close and personal, before Nelson lands another takedown.

Once again, Holland threatens with the flailing legs - but Nelson neutralises his attacks with two hammer-fists from high up before taking the back.

Here, he locks in a TIGHT choke and it looks like Holland is going to go to sleep rather than tap - but the American manages to somehow escape and stays alive in the fight!

Back on the feet, Holland goes for a flying knee before connecting with a hard body shot with seconds to go, so still that it sent him stumbling back rather than his opponent. A very entertaining fight, that. We go to the judges.

Kevin Holland def. Gunnar Nelson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Absolute belter. Holland always delivers when it comes to the entertainment factor.