The welterweight division has discovered a brand new prime contender. For 25 minutes, Sean Brady dominated former title challenger Gilbert Burns of their foremost occasion bout at UFC Combat Night time 242, almost reaching 50-45 scorecards throughout the board. This win now places the Philadelphia native that a lot nearer to a attainable gold-glove rematch versus the one man to ever beat him, welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.
Different highlights on the cardboard included Natália Silva strolling away with an outstanding unanimous determination victory over Jéssica Andrade, Steve Garcia’s violent one spherical knockout over Kyle Nelson, and Cody Durden taking out Matt Schnell with an anaconda choke within the second spherical.
Now, let’s check out who our foremost card winners ought to struggle subsequent.
Yanal Ashmouz
To kick off the primary card festivities, Yanal Ashmouz (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) needed to cope with a really recreation Trevor Peek, a person identified for his near-limitless drive to stroll ahead and excessive punch quantity. Nevertheless, whereas his opponent did outland him in general important strikes, it was the highest notch grappling of Ashmouz that allowed him to safe the unanimous determination win.
Combat to Make: Clay Guida
Whereas his putting is nothing to scoff at, it’s clear that Ashmouz’s bread and butter resides in his very good floor recreation. For his subsequent contest, a pairing with one of many light-weight division’s finest ever wrestlers, Clay Guida, can be the suitable take a look at to see if “Crimson Fox” has the talents to make it previous the extra veteran rivals within the weight class.
Cody Durden
Ending a two-fight dropping streak in model, Cody Durden (17-6-1 MMA, 6-4 UFC) completed perennial flyweight contender Matthew Schnell within the second spherical of their 125-lb. conflict with a superb anaconda choke. The win marks Durden’s first since August of final 12 months after struggling two back-to-back stoppage defeats to Tagir Ulanbekov and Bruno Silva.
Combat to Make: Tim Elliot
Regardless of lastly getting again into the winners circle, Durden nonetheless has a variety of work to do within the higher echelon at flyweight if he needs to ever attain title competition. For his subsequent UFC look, a gathering with the present quantity ten contender within the division, Tim Elliot, can be simply the victory “Customized Made” wants for a speedy resurgence within the 125-lb. rankings.
Steve Garcia
Logging his second consecutive Efficiency of the Night time-earning win in a row, Steve Garcia (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) wanted slightly below 4 minutes to punch out Kyle Nelson within the very first spherical. Now driving a five-fight knockout streak, Garcia has now elevated himself to being one of many promotion’s extra prolific finishers.
Combat to Make: Edson Barboza
At this level, Garcia has greater than confirmed that he is among the finest Featherweight fighters on the planet and has rightfully earned his shot at difficult for a spot on the 145-lb rankings. And it simply so occurs that the No. 15-ranked, and fellow ending powerhouse, Edson Barboza can be with out an opponent, having not fought since a foremost occasion loss to Lerone Murphy again in Might.
Natália Silva
Placing on a putting clinic in opposition to a former UFC champion, Natália Silva (18-5-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) picked up the most important win of her MMA profession when she defeated Jéssica Andrade by unanimous determination. Together with her present win streak now at 12 in a row, it appears solely a matter of time earlier than the surging Brazilian is knocking on the door for a title shot at 125 lbs.
Combat to Make: Maycee Barber
With a spotless document within the UFC, has all of the makings of a future star at Flyweight. Standing in her manner, nonetheless, is one other prime contender within the division, Maycee Barber. Barber has seemed superb herself over the previous three years since dropping to eventual champion Alexa Grasso again in 2021, successful her previous 5 fights. Solely one in all these top-caliber strikers may be the subsequent huge factor at 125 lbs., with the winner seemingly incomes the suitable to problem for the belt someday in 2025.
Sean Brady
Though he could have been on the sidelines for greater than a 12 months as a result of accidents, Sean Brady (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) seemed completely dominant in his unanimous determination overcome Gilbert Burns final weekend. Together with his signature aggressive grappling model, Brady fully stymied the previous welterweight title challenger throughout all 5 rounds, incomes nearly good scores throughout the board.
Combat to Make: Ian Machado Garry
In his post-fight interview, Brady insisted on taking over somebody throughout the Welterweight prime 5 for his subsequent opponent or streaking 170-lb. contender Ian Machado Garry. Whereas an enormous identify throughout the utmost echelon of the division would make sense, a win over the undefeated Machado Garry might be all of the Philadelphia native must catapult himself into title talks. Together with his get up trying higher than ever since his layoff, Brady may very nicely stand toe-to-toe with the Irish putting specialist, whereas additionally additional cementing his declare to being known as arguably one of the best grappler within the division.
