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 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:
Leon Edwards fumes at press as he looks to distance himself from Belal Muhammad feud
Leon Edwards opponent Sean Brady makes vicious threat ahead of UFC London clash
Leon Edwards explains coaching change to tackle key issue from Belal Muhammad loss
Michael Bisping on vital Leon Edwards change that could decide Sean Brady bout
UFC London LIVE: Gunnar Nelson vs Kevin Holland
Round two
Holland stays on the offensive to start the round but Nelson grows into it, off the back of a much-needed session on the stool.
Gunnar goes for the takedown but it’s brilliantly defended by Holland up against the cage. Nelson’s second attempt, however, is more successful.
Nelson takes control on top as the crowd perform the trademark Icelandic clap. He then gets back to his feet and nearly gets caught with Holland’s flailing legs from the mat. The round ends back on the ground.
UFC London LIVE: Gunnar Nelson vs Kevin Holland
Round one
Holland starts brightly and lands a flurry of body shots before turning focus to the head.
He then shoots for the takedown and looks for an armbar submission. Up against the cage, he grapples with Nelson before the Icelandic fighter manages to get to his feet - with Holland basically hanging off him. Both fighters laugh before Holland lets go.
The slapper sounds for 10 seconds left and BANG! Holland knocks Nelson down with a massive shot and is whaling on him with seconds to go. Nelson is just about saved by the buzzer and stumbles back to his corner after Holland is dragged off him.
That. Was. Close.
UFC London LIVE: Gunnar Nelson vs Kevin Holland
Right, as we shake off that bombshell, we’ve got more action on the way.
Kevin Holland and Gunnar Nelson are about to throw down in an exciting welterweight matchup.
It feels like Holland only fought yesterday, coming into this fight off defeat to Reinier de Ridder. Gunnar, meanwhile, hasn’t been in the Octagon since March 2023’s London event.
BREAKING: Molly McCann RETIRES from MMA
Molly McCann has put her gloves to the mat and signalled her retirement from MMA.
A fighter with so much heart and desire - and an ability to captivate an audience. She’ll be a big miss in the UK scene.
Wow. What a bombshell.
UFC London LIVE: Molly McCann vs Alexia Thainara
Round one
Molly looks proper up for this. We get underway.
Both find their range early on before trading left and right hooks in close quarters. Thainara then gets the takedown - and up against a submission expert, this is dangerous for McCann.
Thainara has full mount and is trying to chip away at McCann with ground and pound. Up against the cage, she looks for the chin - and after initially scrambling, McCann loses her back.
Thainara goes to lock in a rear-naked choke. Her first attempt looks sunk in, but McCann does just enough to momentarily loosen the hold and escape. Operative word being momentarily there, as Thainara gets the RNC yet again and this time gets the tap.
Alexia Thainara def. Molly McCann via first-round submission (rear naked choke, 4:32)
For a brief second, it looked like she’d survived that submission attack brilliantly. But Thainara was relentless.
UFC London LIVE: Molly McCann vs Alexia Thainara
Time for ‘Meatball’ Molly!
Molly McCann takes on Brazilian prospect Alexia Thainara as she looks to get back in the win column.
It was a late change of opponent for Molly, who was meant to fight Istela Nunes before she pulled out on Thursday. At the 11th hour, Thainara stepped in and makes her UFC debut.
Expecting an explosion of noise in here as she makes her ringwalk.
Underdog once more, Leon Edwards has a secret weapon at UFC London
Leon Edwards is back in the role he’s become all too familiar with in the UFC.
“Rocky” returns to home turf as the headline attraction for UFC London this weekend, hoping to bounce back from welterweight title despair last summer. Taking on Sean Brady after original opponent Jack Della Maddalena was fast-tracked to a championship bout, Edwards desperately needs his arm raised by Saturday’s end.
Yet despite having only just lost his belt, Edwards is once again out of favour with the bookies. Against a man who took the fight on short notice, Edwards is tipped at 5/4 to claim victory, while American grappler Brady is 8/13. This isn’t a new occurrence for the British-Jamaican, who has spent his career disproving critics who claim he’s already shot as high as he can.
The Independent’s preview ahead of Leon Edwards vs Sean Brady:
Underdog once more, Leon Edwards has a secret weapon at UFC London
UFC London LIVE: Jordan Vucenic vs Chris Duncan
Round two
Duncan gets Vucenic to the ground early but as they grapple, Vucenic rolls through and looks to lock in a guillotine. He might’ve had it for a second but Duncan escapes.
Vucenic doesn’t quite go on the front foot but is sharp on the counter, hurting Duncan with a left as he came in hot and heavy. Duncan is now bleeding on the right of his temple.
The Scot responds by landing four or five BIG shots of his own! Vucenic tries to go for the takedown to escape against the cage but Duncan sinks in the guillotine and drags him to the mat, forcing the tap!
Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic via second-round submission (guillotine, 3:42)
UFC London LIVE: Jordan Vucenic vs Chris Duncan
Round one
Duncan in the black, Vucenic in the white. If you need further help distinguishing the two, Vucenic is the fighter covered head-to-toe in ink.
The Scotsman bursts out the blocks and fires a vicious body kick to headshot combination that knocks Vucenic to the mat! Duncan pounces but Vucenic survives the attempts to finish the fight.
The pair stay on the mat before Duncan picks up his opponent and DUMPS him on his head, keeping control for the remainder of the round.
UFC London LIVE: Jordan Vucenic vs Chris Duncan
An all-British lightweight bout up next as Scotland’s Chris Duncan takes on former Cage Warriors champion Jordan Vucenic.
Vucenic will look to bag his first win in his second UFC fight, having lost his debut against Guram Kutateladze after taking the fight on short notice.
Duncan, meanwhile, will look to put together his second win streak in the promotion as he eyes a place in the top 15.
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