Sean Brady’s rise: Why he believes Colby Covington is his easiest matchup yet.

MMA is a dynamic environment where new talents are always coming up to disrupt the order of the champions and the contenders. New entrants in the UFC welterweight division include Sean Brady, who has not lost a fight in his career and is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and known for being one of the most dangerous grapplers in the division. As his star continues to rise, Brady has made a bold claim: Colby Covington, a former interim welterweight champion and one of the most controversial fighters in MMA, would be his easiest fight.

This is quite shocking to many, especially given that Covington is a black belt in wrestling, has great cardio and has faced some of the best fighters in the division, including Kamaru Usman, Jorge Masvidal and Robbie Lawler. But Brady, who is quite sure of his abilities, thinks that Covington’s style is perfect for him. In this article we are going to discuss how Sean Brady has risen to the top of the welterweight division and what makes him special and why he believes that Colby Covington is the perfect fighter for him.

Sean Brady’s Journey: The Star on the Rise

Sean Brady was born and raised in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and has always been an athletic person who engaged in combat sports since his childhood. Like many other fighters, Brady began with the common forms of martial arts such as boxing or karate; however, this was not the case. He got hooked on Brazilian jiu-jitsu in his teenage years and the experience in grappling arts paved the way for his MMA career.

Brady made a name for himself in the Midwest grappling scene and was recognized and received his black belts from coaches such as Daniel Gracie, member of the Gracie family who introduced Brazilian jiu-jitsu in America. His wrestling has always been one of the key aspects of his MMA game and he shows it by being able to control his opponents, keep them down and even threaten them with submissions from various positions.

After going through his career without a single loss in the regional MMA competition, Brady joined the UFC in 2019 and has been on the rise ever since. His BJJ from the gracie humaita, his wrestling and his increasing stand up makes him one of the most versatile fighters in the welterweight division. In his UFC career, Brady has faced a number of strong opponents such as Jake Matthews, Court McGee and Michael Chiesa where he has demonstrated his excellent grappling skills and his ability to survive a fight.

The Basics of Sean Brady’s Skill Set

First, let’s look at the aspects of Brady’s game that make him a tough matchup for Covington and why he thinks the American is his easiest foe.

1. Grappling Mastery

Brady’s wrestling is his biggest asset and it is the key to his confidence against someone like Covington who is also a wrestler. While many strikers or even wrestlers can have problems with dealing with Covington’s pressure and his wrestling, Brady is not bothered by that at all. That Brazilian jiu-jitsu background also means he’s not just trying to block takedowns, he’s trying to create and capitalize on positions, and if need be, finish opponents from his back.

This is where Brady is different from most grapplers in MMA because he is able to link his offense and defense grappling nicely. He has demonstrated that he can go from submission to sweeps, control his opponents on top, and not get hit while keeping his opponents busy. In the fight against Michael Chiesa, who is also a very skilled grappler, Brady was able to shut down Chiesa’s takedown and submission game and keep him on the back foot the whole time.

Such an approach is especially risky against opponents like Covington, who mainly focuses on wrestling and controlling the fight on the ground. Covington’s speed and cardio are known to be on another level, but Brady is technically sound on the ground, and that could be a problem. In the clinch, where the fight is mostly about who can out-throw who, technicality wins over athleticism, and Brady feels that he is technically better.

2. Tactical Wrestling

Brady is mostly famous for his jiu-jitsu but his wrestling has also become quite good thus making him a very dangerous fighter in the ground game. That is why he is so sure that he will be able to handle Covington: he is not just a jiu-jitsu guy, he can also wrestle. Wrestling is usually the key to victory in any MMA bout and Brady’s takedown defence, scrambles, and his own takedowns are difficult to deal with.

While many fighters can be easily taken down and outwrestled by Covington, Brady is not a fighter that can be easily taken down and controlled on the mat, and he is not afraid to use his own wrestling to either keep the fight on the feet or take it to the ground. This is especially true against someone like Covington who wants to keep the fight standing and is always looking to take his opponents down.

This means that Brady who is a wrestler is not only trying to avoid takedowns but also trying to counter attack with his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Covington’s pressure wrestling may present Brady with targets to strike and submit or reverse, and this is where Brady thinks he has the edge.

3. Cardio and Conditioning

The biggest issue in any fight with Colby Covington is cardio. Covington is famous for his gas tank, he always tries to out work his opponents and keep the pace of the fight for five rounds. But, Brady is not a weak link when it comes to fitness. An athlete of Philadelphia based team with Daniel Gracie and his team, Brady is known for his commitment towards strength and conditioning.

Brady also acknowledges the fact that Covington has one of the best cardio in the division but he is certain that he can keep up with Covington or even surpass him. Brady’s style of fighting is very tiring especially when it comes to taking down opponents on the ground but he has shown in several three round fights that he can perform at a high intensity for the duration of the fight. As for the fight against Michael Chiesa, he demonstrated that he can go the distance while keeping control over the grappling.

Brady’s conditioning along with his Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu means that he won’t back away from a fast-paced fight with Covington. As many of Covington’s opponents have wilted under his relentless pressure, Brady is sure that he will be able to match the pace and even outpace Covington and control the fight.

4. Striking Development

Despite the fact that the ground game is the foundation of Brady’s game, his striking has become much better during his UFC tenure. With the help of some of the striking coaches and training partners such as Paul Felder, Brady has improved his striking aspect of the game.

Covington has come a long way in terms of striking but it still is not his best attribute. His striking game is often employed as a way of feinting for takedowns and he doesn’t focus on the power of his strikes. Brady, however, has proved that he is not shy to throw jabs and punches as well as low kicks to break the opponent’s flow.

Against Covington, Brady’s striking may be the difference in the fight and help him at least keep the fight close on the feet. Covington’s pressure-oriented strategy creates opportunities for counters and Brady is gradually becoming more proficient with his counterpunches which makes it possible for him to land big shots especially in the instances where Covington may be aiming at taking down his opponent.

Why Sean Brady Thinks Colby Covington is His Easiest Opponent

That being said, due to the fact that Brady is rather versatile in his fighting style, it is not surprising to hear him say that Colby Covington could be one of the easiest opponents for him in the welterweight division. There are a number of reasons why Brady is so sure of himself and they are all connected with the threats that Covington presents—and threats that Brady is certain he has the tools to counter.

1. Grappling vs. Grappling

According to Brady, Covington is a fighter who is mostly a grappler. Covington has made strides in his stand-up game but he’s still very much a wrestler who aims to take his opponents down and smother them with top control. Covington’s style is a nightmare for those who have problems with wrestling, especially fighters. But, wrestling is not only something that makes Brady comfortable, he is actually good at it.

According to Brady, Covington’s constant attempt to take down his opponent and pressure are perfect for him. Brady is a wrestler, and he believes that Covington’s striking will present him with a chance to take the fight to the ground and submit Covington, sweep him or reverse him. Covington has been able to control many of his opponents with his wrestling but Brady believes that he can shut down Covington’s wrestling and even use it against him.

2. Technical Superiority

Brady also feels that he is the more technical grappler and that is why he thinks Covington is an easy matchup. Covington is a fighter who needs to keep the pressure on and throw a lot of strikes and Brady is a jiu-jitsu guy who lives off accuracy and timing. In the clinch and on the ground, where power is not always the key factor, Brady is simply the best in the division, as he has a great takedown defense and great submission skills.

Brady has fought with high-level grapplers such as Michael Chiesa and defeated them in their own territory. Covington is a great wrestler but he has never met a man with such a combination of jiu-jitsu and wrestling as Brady. This is one factor that makes Brady have the upper hand in the matchup according to him.

3. The Pace Factor

Covington’s cardio and his grappling are his biggest strengths but Brady is sure that he can outgrapple Covington and even outpace him. The fact that Brady is very effective in managing the ground while at the same time trying to conserve energy is one of his strengths. In a fight where Covington is always trying to take the fight to the ground and grapple, Brady feels that he will be able to tire out Covington, reverse the positions and gain the upper hand in the fight.

4. Striking Advantage

However, the striking of Covington has become better but it is still a big issue compared to the other strikers in the division. While Brady has not been known for his striking ability, he has built a good stand up game to go with his ground game. In the clinch, Brady thinks he can outstrike Covington and that he will be able to do so in the first few rounds before the wrestler takes over.

What is in the Future for Sean Brady?

With Sean Brady building his stock in the welterweight division, a fight with Colby Covington could be next. Covington is still one of the biggest names in the division and a bout between the two could be for the number one contender’s spot or a co-main event match.

The confidence that Brady has in himself to beat Covington is rooted in the fact that he has the skills and the tools to do so and that the latter will be unable to match. For Brady, victory over Covington would not only confirm him as one of the best welterweight fighters in the division but also prove that the style of fighting employed by Covington is perfect for Brady to capitalize on.

When the fight takes place, the audience will be able to see a battle of two talented fighters of the division. Covington will provide pressure, cardio, and wrestling but Brady thinks that his technical grappling, better striking, and counter to Covington’s strength will make him win the fight.

Conclusion

Sean Brady’s ascent in the UFC’s welterweight division has been meteoric and the American has been impressive. Brady has an unblemished record and has beaten some of the best fighters in the welterweight division and thus is a force to be reckoned with. The confidence comes from the fact that he is sure that he has the better grappling, cardio, and striking to defeat Colby Covington.

As Brady moves up in the rankings, a bout with Covington may be in the future for the welterweight contender. If the words of Brady are to be believed then Colby Covington may very well be his easiest opponent to date.