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: Christian Leroy Duncan vs Andrey Pulyaev
Round one
Pulyaev keeping his distance as CLD starts on the offensive. The Brit then closes the gap and pummels Pulyaev up against the fence, going for a jumping knee.
The pair then get into the clinch and don’t separate as Pulyaev looks to wear CLD down. The home favourite isn’t getting much luck getting out of this, but is helped by referee Jason Herzog who orders a separation with a minute to go.
CLD finishes the round in pursuit of his opponent but nothing major lands.
UFC London LIVE: Shauna Bannon vs Puja Tomar
Bannon wants the bonus. No doubt she’s an early contender!
Next up: it’s Christian Leroy Duncan against Andrey Pulyaev.
UFC London LIVE: Shauna Bannon vs Puja Tomar
Round two
Bannon starts brightly and chases Tomar down, looking for a knockout blow. Tomar evades successfully.
Then BANG! Tomar connects with a MASSIVE hook and flattens Bannon. The Irish fighter survives the ground and pound and then turns attacker, using her grappling acumen to look for the submission.
She then locks in the armbar and gets the TAP! An incredible turnaround in the blink of an eye.
Shauna Bannon def. Puja Tomar via second-round submission (armbar, 3:32)
From the brink of elimination, Bannon has pulled out an astounding victory. Some powers of recovery!
UFC London LIVE: Shauna Bannon vs Puja Tomar
Round one
Bannon goes in early with the obliques before getting Tomar against the fence. The Indian star responds with an explosion of punches and lands with a clean head-kick.
It goes a bit quiet for a couple minutes - but after a brief stoppage the two come out flying and Bannon looks to be rocked by an overhand. The pair end the first five on a good note.
UFC London LIVE: Shauna Bannon vs Puja Tomar
Bruce Buffer introducing the fighters. We’ve got a very strong turnout here for so early in the prelims.
London never lets down.
UFC London LIVE: Shauna Bannon vs Puja Tomar
To the strawweights as Shauna Bannon takes on Puja Tomar.
Tomar is on a five-fight win streak in MMA and poses a tough test for Ireland’s Bannon, who comes into this off the back of her first UFC win.
Walkouts underway.
UFC London LIVE: Nathan Fletcher vs Caolan Loughran
Round three
Right hook and a one-two connect from Loughran before landing an early takedown. Fletcher flips out of it though and tries to take the chin. Nearly, but no luck.
Then Loughran has the back and its his turn to go for an rear-naked. Fletcher does well to move his right leg back and gets Loughran’s position off kilter. The Irishman falls off, but keeps Fletcher against the fence.
Then CHAOS breaks out in the clinch. Both start whaling on each other to finish the fight in style, with both getting rocked. We don’t get a Gaethje vs Holloway style finish, though, and we go to a decision.
Caolan Loughran def. Nathan Fletcher via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Not a warm reaction to that result from the crowd. Very tight call, but in no way a robbery.
UFC London LIVE: Nathan Fletcher vs Caolan Loughran
Round two
This time it’s Fletcher who goes for the takedown. He gets Loughran against the fence as his coaches scream for him to knee him in the head. Fletcher obliges and gets the back.
There, he lands a constant stream of short-range punches to the Irishman’s skull, chipping away at his opponent. These get heavier and heavier before he goes to lock in an RNC - doesn’t quite get under the chin and Loughran finally escapes.
The pair finish the round on the feet, but not before Fletcher dodges a takedown and lands with a nice knee - few inches higher and he would’ve caught him head-on flush.
UFC London LIVE: Nathan Fletcher vs Caolan Loughran
Round one
First decent shot of the fight goes Loughran’s way as he connects with an overhand right, but Fletcher responds with a two-one of his own. The scouser then goes on the offensive but gets caught up against the cage, with Loughran landing the takedown.
After time against the fence, the fight returns to the feet where Fletcher lands some reaction-evoking headshots. Loughran wants this on the ground and gets Fletcher to the mat, but his creative takedown leads to Fletcher taking mount, who ends the round by landing a flurry of ground strikes.
UFC London LIVE: Nathan Fletcher vs Caolan Loughran
Next up, it’s Liverpool’s own Nathan Fletcher against Irish fighter Caolan Loughran.
The pair have already faced off outside of the UFC, with Next Gen’s Fletcher getting the win in that one. Loughran will be looking to level the score tonight.
Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett will have Fletcher’s back in what is the first of two fights for Next Gen - who himself has his own beef with Loughran.
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