Former welterweight champion Leon Edwards appears to determine himself as the following challenger for the identify when he clashes with Sean Brady in the primary match at UFC Combat Night time at O2 Area in London on Saturday (4 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with prelims at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+).
Edwards, ESPN’s No. 2-ranked welterweight, has now not fought since shedding the identify in opposition to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 ultimate July. Sooner than the loss, Edwards used to be on a four-fight profitable streak that integrated two wins over fellow former champ Kamaru Usman.
Brady, No. 5 in ESPN’s divisional scores, has received back-to-back fights over Kelvin Gastelum and Gilbert Burns, respectively. 3 of Brady’s seven UFC wins have come by means of submission.
Andreas Hale spoke to UFC strawweight Angela Hill to get her point of view at the UFC primary match. ESPN making a bet professional Ian Parker provides perception and research at the primary match and different intriguing bets he likes at the card.
Editor’s notice: Responses were edited for brevity and readability.
Welterweight: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady
Angela Hill, UFC strawweight
Editor’s Alternatives
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How Edwards wins: Edwards wins by way of striking at the force, being affected person, pushing Brady again and the usage of leg feints to stay him from making an attempt takedowns. He allowed Muhammad to push him again and take him down within the ultimate combat, however the only time Edwards went ahead, he used to be in a position to stuff Muhammad’s takedown strive. He has to power Brady to hesitate, and that implies Edwards should transfer ahead repeatedly slightly than wait to look what his opponent does. He additionally has to make use of his wrestling talents — an underrated energy. If he does not, he is too predictable. When he combined up his hanging and grappling with Colby Covington and in the second one combat with Usman, he used to be in a position to dominate.
How Brady wins: Brady’s perfect fights also are when he mixes his hanging and his grappling. His hanging is not easiest, however it’s efficient when he makes use of it to push fighters again, forcing them to stay their guard top so he can shoot beneath and get a takedown. He has to force Edwards and be relentless, as a result of Edwards has proven he can also be smothered when preventing drained and stale the again foot within the later rounds. Brady’s tough left hand and leg kicks will open issues up for his offense, if he makes use of them. He additionally cannot rush the submission makes an attempt when he is in place.
X issue: For Edwards, it’s whether or not he can command all of his talents — together with grappling — within the combat. He must be nearly easiest and put the whole thing in combination to win this combat. For Brady, it is the concern of his elite grappling. If he makes Edwards draw back along with his degree adjustments, he can take over the combat.
Prediction: Edwards by way of choice.
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UFC Combat Night time: Edwards vs. Brady
Parker: Brady to win (-155). After shedding the identify to Muhammad, Edwards must get previous a identical taste of opponent in Brady if he plans to earn any other shot at Muhammad. Edwards has to stay this combat at the toes if he needs to get a win. He can not get started slowly, which might permit Brady to dictate the tempo. Edwards’ taste isn’t person who will get higher because the fights pass on. When Edwards is an competitive striker, he’s as bad as any person. Sadly, we infrequently see that model of him, so I’m taking Brady right here. At the toes, Edwards may have the benefit, however he’ll most probably be so fascinated about takedowns that he’ll stay his arms low and be hesitant to strike. Brady is a monster within the grappling division, and as soon as he is taking Edwards down, his bodily energy will permit him to bully Edwards into the kind of combat he needs.
Parker’s perfect bets on the remainder of the cardboard
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Carlos Ulberg wishes simply 12 seconds to complete Alonzo Menifield
Carlos Ulberg finishes Alonzo Menifield in simply 12 seconds at UFC Combat Night time.
Gentle heavyweight: Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg
Blachowicz to win (+235). I am stunned to look Blachowicz as an underdog to Ulberg. I perceive Ulberg has been a laugh to observe and is using a seven-fight profitable streak, however none of the ones wins got here in opposition to a most sensible fighter within the department. The win in opposition to Volkan Oezdemir did not go away me pondering he used to be in a position for the next move, so except he knocks out Blachowicz in Spherical 1, I do not see how else he’ll win this combat. Perhaps the oddsmakers are bearing in mind that Blachowicz hasn’t fought since July 2023, when he misplaced a break up choice to Alex Pereira (which I assumed he received). Fortunately for us, Blachowicz is the simpler fighter regardless of the place the combat is going and has underrated wrestling and grappling talents that he can use when essential. So long as he can live to tell the tale the early energy of Ulberg, at underdog odds, Blachowicz is the pick out.
Featherweight: Nathaniel Wooden vs. Morgan Charrière
Charrière to win (-155). This may finally end up being the combat of the night time. After his loss to Chepe Mariscal, in a wild combat, Charrière bounced again with an attractive KO win over Gabriel Miranda ultimate September. Charrière may have the velocity and dimension benefit on this combat, which can come into play if Wooden makes an attempt to make this right into a wrestling fit. So long as Charrière can stay this combat status, be expecting him to get the win in what perhaps will probably be a aggressive combat.
Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulyaev
Over 1.5 rounds (-155). Duncan is a close to 3-1 favourite, and whilst I believe he will get a win right here, that is approach too dear of a line. And there may be any other play that I love a lot more: over 1.5 rounds. Duncan has long gone over the 1.5 rounds mark in 3 of his previous 4 fights and Pulyaev, who’s sturdy, will glance to near the gap and grapple. Be expecting Duncan to fend off takedowns early and win the combat by way of outstriking his opponent from a distance.
