Sean Brady’s fearless call-out of Colby Covington: Will ‘Chaos’ respond?

In the high voltage and competitive world of mixed martial arts (MMA) where action, performance, theatrics and bluster all intersect, call-outs are the fuse that lights the fire for bouts. Interviews, social media, and post-fight statements are some of the ways that fighters challenge their next opponents and the rivalry that ensues may heat up to produce a confrontation. In the past few weeks, a fast-rising UFC welterweight contender named Sean Brady took to social media to challenge one of the most polarizing and talented fighters in the promotion’s history, Colby Covington. The big question looming over the MMA world now is: Will Covington answer the call and if he does will this lead to one of the most exciting bouts in the welterweight division?

Who is Sean Brady? The Emergence of a New Power

In order to appreciate the importance of this call-out, one has to understand who Sean Brady is and why his challenge to Covington is creating such a buzz. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Brady has made his mark as a contender in the welterweight category and is known for his durability and the ability to switch between offense and defense. His current record is 15-1 in his last fight and this shows how good he is and can be in the octagon. Standing at 5 ’10”, and with a stocky muscular build, Brady is a grappler who likes to pressure his opponents and has great stamina, which makes him a very tough opponent for anyone at 170 pounds.

Brady has been on the rise and has become one of the most successful quarterbacks in the NFL. The 30-year-old is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and has proved his worth on the ground in the majority of the fights he has had in his career. In his bout with Michael Chiesa, another wrestler, Brady proved his grappling credentials with a unanimous decision win even though Chiesa tried to make a late comeback. This fight was important for Brady as it showed that he can fight and defeat some of the best fighters in the UFC.

Despite the fact that his grappling is probably his biggest strength, Brady is not a bad striker either. His striking has been improving and he has proved that he is capable of standing up to the best in the division whether it is on the ground or on the feet. Another great example of the versatility of Brady was the way he defeated Jake Matthews with his striking, which led to takedowns and controlling the position of Matthews for the entire fight. In every fight that passes, Brady has been improving as a fighter and with the rate at which he is improving, he is expected to become a title contender in the coming years.

But the one thing that has been absent from Brady’s resume is a win over one of the division’s best fighters. He has defeated seasoned campaigners and up and coming fighters but now he has his sights on one of the division’s top contenders in Colby Covington.

Colby Covington, Chaos in and Out of the Octagon:

Opposite this potential bout is Colby “Chaos” Covington. Whether fans are fans of Covington or not, he is easily one of the most polarizing fighters in the entire UFC today. Covington’s flamboyance, which includes trash talking, political statements and aggressive behavior has made him a favorite among many and a villain among others. However, the persona that is presented to the public is a fighter who has earned his right to be considered as one of the top welterweight fighters in the division.

Covington was able to quickly climb the ranks in the UFC and this was not only due to his skill but also his promotion. After winning fights against top-shelf competition, Covington continued to ramp up the antics of his trash-talking. His conflict with former team-mate Jorge Masvidal, his bitter rivalry with Kamaru Usman and his support for the former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump have also contributed to the persona. This larger than life character has helped Covington become the star that he is and has brought attention to the city of Milwaukee but it has also tended to distract from the fact that he is a very capable fighter.

Covington’s game plan is simple, put pressure on his opponents, keep the pace high and use his wrestling to control the fight. A former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, Covington’s wrestling is as good as it gets and he likes to wear his opponents down. He is a wrestler who also has a high volume striking and does not necessarily rely on knockout power. In the fights against Usman, Covington demonstrated a great chin and heart, going to the score with one of the best fighters in the world. Although he failed in his bid to win the undisputed title in both tries, the performances against Usman got him a lot of recognition as one of the best in the division.

Covington’s wins against the likes of former champion Tyron Woodley, Robbie Lawler and Rafael dos Anjos have only added to his growing reputation as one of the division’s next in line. His relentless pressure and tenacity in the octagon coupled with his desire to play the role of the bad guy has made him an interesting character in the UFC.

The Call-Out: Brady Vs Covington

Welcome Sean Brady, the man who is as tough as they come but does not say much, and is ready to take on the challenge of a lifetime. Brady in his interviews and social media platform has expressed his desire to face Covington. He has been very vocal about his criticism towards Covington for what he believes is the latter’s lack of willingness to face potential opponents and just waiting around for title shots without working for it. Brady has taken time to criticize Covington for what he termed as ‘cherry picking’ opponents that do not pose any challenge to him.

For Brady, a fight with Covington is not just about moving up the rankings, it is about the new generation of welterweight fighters being able to knockout the division’s current big names. Covington is a tough test for Brady but it is a chance for him to climb into the top five and get back into the mix for a title shot.

This is why the bout between these two fighters is even more interesting, given the fact that these two fighters are completely different from each other. Brady is not an arrogant fighter; he is humble and polite and rather gets his point across in the octagon. Covington on the other hand loves the trash talk before the fight and often engages in the mental warfare before the actual fight in the cage. A battle between these two would not only be a battle of the fists but also of the ego.

A Clash of Styles: How would a fight between Covington and Brady look like?

If the UFC where to make a match between Covington and Brady then it would definitely be a bout between two of the best ground fighters in the welterweight division. Both of the fighters have a good wrestling background, however, they use it in a different manner. Covington’s style is based on the number of strikes and the intensity of the strikes. He is very aggressive, pressing his foe and throwing combinations and trying to take him down. His gas tank is one of the best in the UFC and he uses his cardio to out strike and out work his opponents over the course of five rounds.

Although a fighter, Brady is more calculating than reckless. He doesn’t really throw around his opponents, but rather focuses on control and submissions in position. He’s comfortable with top position, which allows him to control the fight and apply pressure on the opponent and search for submission. Brady has demonstrated that he can match up with good strikers as far as his feet are concerned, but his greatest asset is his ability to control the range of the fight.

In a grappling war between Covington and Brady, a lot will come down to who can dominate the other. Covington’s wrestling has helped him shut down the takedown and grappling game of his opponents but Brady is a submission artist. If the fight remains in the stand up game then Covington’s activity level might be the difference but Brady has the power to force Covington to think twice about keeping the fight on the feet.

There is no doubt that one of the most exciting factors of this potential bout is the question of how their cardio and pressure would compare. Both men are very fast workers and yet they achieve this in rather different ways. Covington depends on his cardiovascular fitness to keep the fight going at full throttle throughout the duration of the fight, while Brady employs pressure to slowly break down his opponents. If this fight goes into the later rounds, it would be interesting to see who of the two fighters will be able to keep up the energy and keep implementing their strategy.

What are Really Risks for Both Fighters?

For Sean Brady, a fight with Covington is a gift. Covington is the biggest name he has ever challenged and a win over him will propel Brady to the title shot. Defeating Covington will in turn place Brady on a higher pedestal in the division and will show that he is indeed capable of fighting the best. It would also support the claim that Brady made to the UFC to acknowledge the new breed of welterweight contenders who are coming up and wanting to face the current champions.

Covington also has his share of risks and gains when it comes to the fight. Victory over Brady would cement Covington as one of the very best welterweight fighters in the world, and could lead to another title shot. It will also tell the rest of the division that Covington is still a force to reckon with despite his defeats to Usman. However, a defeat to Brady would be quite a blow to Covington’s campaign. Not only would it ruin his chances of getting another title shot but also it would also affect his standing as one of the division’s greatest fighters.

Conclusion: Will the “Chaos” Brand Deliver?

Thus, the UFC world is holding its breath, and now it is Colby Covington’s move. Sean Brady has accepted the challenge and now all eyes are on Covington to see if he will accept the challenge. There are many things that could affect Covington’s decision, but it is hard to deny that this bout between these two would be one of the most exciting in the welterweight division.

Brady’s call-out has added a new twist to the division, whereby a young and undefeated prospect will face a veteran of the wars. If Covington takes the challenge then this will be a significant bout for both fighters. Will “Chaos” respond? The answer to that particular question could dictate the future of the welterweight division for the next few years.