Burns vs. Brady: Breaking down the key takeaways from UFC Fight Night

The main event of UFC Fight Night featuring Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady was an interesting display of the best that the mixed martial arts (MMA) has to offer. The fight was one of the most significant bouts of two best welterweight fighters of that time with a huge impact on the future of this weight class. The two fighters were both bringing form and intent into the fight in an effort to further cement themselves as the elite of the division. Burns, who previously challenged for the title in the division, wanted to demonstrate that he remains a contender for the title at 170 pounds, while Brady wanted to score a victory that would put him at the top of the welterweight division.

This article will discuss the major points of the Burns vs. Brady fight, examining the actions of the fighters, their decisions, and the consequences of the fight for the UFC welterweight category. We will also analyse how the results affect the further development of both fighters and the overall map of the division.

The Fighters: The Background and the Expectations before the Fight

Gilbert Burns: The Veteran Contender

Gilbert “Durinho” Burns came to UFC Fight Night with a lot of experience and good skill which has placed him among the top fighters in the welterweight division. Burns, who started his career in BJJ, began to gain fame in MMA with explosive striking in addition to his superior grappling skills. Burns had previously scored wins over top contenders like Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, Tyron Woodley and Demian Maia and he lost a title shot against Kamaru Usman in a 2021 bout.

Before the bout with Brady, Burns had a clear intention to show that he still can compete with the best of the best at the 147-pound division. At 36 years old, Burns was already answering questions concerning the sustainability of his status as a top contender in a division full of young, ambitious fighters. A victory over another upcoming contender like Brady would definitely put to rest any discussion on the position of the fighter in the division and could prepare him for another shot at the title.

Sean Brady: The Unbeaten Prospect

On the other side of the octagon was the undefeated prospect in the welterweight division, Sean Brady. The Philadelphia fighter, Brady, was known to be a tough wrestler, with good stamina and a slow pace that tires his opponent out. Before UFC Fight Night, Brady was an undefeated fighter with a 15-0 record and had defeated such fighters as Michael Chiesa and Jake Matthews. Brady’s wrestling, submissions, and his ability to deliver the ground-and-pound had placed him as a top contender in the welterweight division.

In Brady’s case, the bout with Burns was the most difficult of his career so far. A victory will help him to strengthen his position as a bona fide contender for the title, whereas a defeat will stall his progress and make people doubt his ability to challenge the best of the best in the division. Realizing the implications of the fight, Brady understood the fact that he had to be on his best performance to challenge a fighter like Burns.

The Fight: Burns vs Brady: Analyzing the Case

The fight between Burns and Brady was interesting and quite as expected, being a clash of two of the best welterweight fighters in the world. As expected both fighters came to the octagon with a clear strategy and from the fight it was seen that this was where each fighter excelled and where they were weak.

Round 1: The Beginning – A High-Paced Episode

The fight started with both the fighters trying to gauge the distance on the outside but the pace quickly picked up. It was immediately observed that Burns, who is known for his strong punch, moved to develop his jab and prepare for his heavy right hand. On the other hand, Brady, who knew that Burns possessed a good knockout punch, used footwork and head movement in order to not be knocked out early.

What was apparent right from the onset was that Burns’ striking had not remained stagnant but was dynamic. Brady was never sure of the moves that Burns was going to make due to the feints and setups that he employed and Burns was more accurate with his punches than before. Nevertheless, all of Brady’s wrestling background was also seen during the match. In the first round, Brady tried to move in close to clinch range with the aim of getting inside the striking range of Burns and take the fight to the ground.

The first round was more or less even with both the fighters getting good opportunities. Burns was able to get in several clean punches on Brady while Brady was able to take down Burns late in the round. But Burns, who is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, was able to avoid most of the strikes and get back to his feet before the round ended.

Round 2: Burns Takes Over

In the second round Gilbert Burns started to gain the upper hand of the fight. As for grappling, Brady kept on posing a threat to Burns, but the latter was gradually increasing the effectiveness of his strikes. As the fight progressed Burns was able to utilise his leg kicks to make Brady more sluggish and his punches were beginning to connect more often.

The second round proved to be quite dramatic and one of the highlights of the fight occurred when Burns was able to avoid Brady’s takedown attempt and turn the tables on him and get on top. In one of the rounds that were contested, Burns displayed his superior takedown skills to fend off Brady while maintaining top position to pound on him. Burns was able to dominate the fight on the ground while at the same time enjoying a striking advantage over his opponent on the feet which was a sign that he was slowly building up a lead.

To his credit, however, Brady demonstrated a great deal of determination and stamina. Brady however kept on moving forward as Burns connected with hard punches to the body and head, Brady never stopped searching for openings. Nevertheless, Burns’ experience and technical superiority started taking a toll on Brady as the fight went on.

Round 3: The Finish

When the third round started it was clear that Burns had gained the upper hand in the fight. Brady, although still dangerous, looked considerably tired and was unable to press Kelleher and use his ground and pound. As Brady slowed up, Burns was able to pump out more work and the pressure was back on his opponent.

In the third round Burns was able to land a big right hand that stunned Brady and forced him to back up to the outside of the ring. Knowing that time was almost up, Burns attacked and started throwing punches and elbows at Brady, much to the latter’s dismay. The fight was stopped, and Gilbert Burns got the TKO win.

This was a clear statement win for Burns who not only wanted to show that he still has it in him to compete at this level but also to show that he has grown as a fighter. It was the first time in his career that Brady tasted the bitter pill of a defeat but the manner in which he faced the fight indicated that he would be back in a stronger position in his next fight.

Points to Note from the Fight

The Burns vs. Brady fight had quite a few valuable lessons for the fighters themselves as well as for the UFC welterweight division. Here are the key lessons we can draw from this high-stakes bout:

1. Gilbert Burns’ Striking Continues to Improve

Probably one of the most outstanding changes that have been noted in Gilbert Burns’ over the past few years is in the striking power. Although he was first famous for his jiu-jitsu, Burns has become a strong striker that can knock out his opponents on the floor as well as on the stand. Unlike with Sean Brady, Burns’ striking was clean, forceful and accurate. As I said, his combination of punches and kicks was confusing to Brady and his leg kicks were very effective in tiring his opponent.

The dramatic changes in Burns’ performance make him an even more formidable fighter in the welterweight division. This means that whoever will be facing him on the ground will be in a fix on whether to strike or grapple with him as he is dangerous in both aspects. As for the further development, Burns has a great variety of skills that will make him a formidable opponent for any contender of the division.

2. It was the experience which was a major factor.

Another factor that was evident in the fight was the difference in the experience of the two fighters namely Burns and Brady. Although Brady is an outstanding mixed martial artist, he had never met such a skillful and diverse as Burns. Such a fighting career of Burns as a title contender, the participant of title fights and top-level fights let him remain calm and use all the chances.

The high fight IQ was seen when Burns was able to make adjustments during the fight especially in the second round. When grappling started to work for Brady in the first round, Burns was able to switch the tide on him in the second round and take the upper hand in the fight.

3. Sean Brady’s Potential is still huge.

Although Sean Brady was defeated in the first match in his career, the fight with Gilbert Burns proved that he can become a serious contender for the title of the welterweight champion. Brady was constantly clinching with Burns during the fight and showed a lot of heart as he was able to hurt Burns at times, especially in the first round.

Burns was able to exploit Brady’s weakness by beating him decisively and this can be attributed to his experience and striking power but Brady has all it takes to come back stronger. His ground game is still a force and if he polishes his stand up and fight planning, Brady can again challenge for the division title.

4. The Welterweight Division is as Competitive as It Gets

UFC welterweight division has been one of the most stacked divisions in the organization, and the fight between Burns and Brady reminded everybody about the fact. The bout proved that Burns is one of the contenders for the title while Brady’s display, even if he lost, indicated that the next generation of the welterweights is ready for the challenge.

The welterweight division has many fighters with contendership aspirations, including Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Colby Covington and Khamzat Chimaev. With this victory, Burns is set for another big showdown while Brady still has a bright future ahead of him as he is still young and has a lot of potential.

5. What is in Store for Gilbert Burns?

That is why with the victory over Sean Brady, Gilbert Burns is back in the list of contenders for the title fight in the welterweight category. Burns has already lost the title fight against Kamaru Usman and with the division being in such a state of uncertainty there are many interesting paths for Burns to take.

Another fight that can be expected to happen in the near future is Burns against Colby Covington, a contender who has also expressed his interest in the title fight. Burns and Covington fight would be an interesting clash of the titans where Burns will use his grappling and striking while Covington will use his pressure and wrestling.

The other prospect that could come into reality for Burns is the possibility of facing Khamzat Chimaev once again. Burns and Chimaev have previously shared the octagon, in a fight that was a split decision in favor of Chimaev. There is nothing like having another match between the two since their previous fight was very close.

6. What Is the Next Fight for Sean Brady?

With Gilbert Burns, Sean Brady suffered a defeat, which cannot be regarded as a failure as it is a part of his journey in the welterweight division. Brady has always been one of the most skilled ground fighters in the division and if he chooses to make some necessary changes he could be a genuine contender for the belt.

As for the next step, it is expected that Brady will aim at the victory over another opponent from the top fifteen list. A fight with the likes of Vicente Luque or Neil Magny would be ideal for Brady as he looks to further progress with his stand-up and further round out his skill set.

Conclusion: Burns vs Brady – A Turning Point in Welterweight Category

The Burns vs. Brady fight at UFC Fight Night is one that will be remembered for the rest of the fighters’ careers and for the welterweight division in general. To Gilbert Burns, the victory meant that he is still among the best in the division and also demonstrated his growth as a mixed martial artist. Burns is a very complete fighter and has a lot of experience, and with this win over Brady the next fight awaits him another very strong opponent in the division.

This was a learning experience for Sean Brady but his talent is without a doubt. Brady, however, could still reach the level of one of the leading welterweight contenders with further refining and more hard work. His heart and BJJ skills are quite useful while standing up, he is a tough cookie for many fighters and his future in the UFC is promising.

In conclusion I must say that the fight between Burns and Brady was a great demonstration of the top-tier MMA, which evidences that the UFC welterweight division is as strong as it could be. Since Burns was able to secure a victory and Brady showed that he’s ready to come back, the division has never looked brighter.