UFC London: Edwards vs Brady - Full Card Preview

Date: Saturday 22nd March
Location: The O2 Arena, London, England

Main Event: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady (Welterweight Bout)

Former welterweight champion Leon Edwards returns to the Octagon for the first time since losing his title to Belal Muhammad last year. The Birmingham native, who went 13 fights unbeaten before his loss, is eager to bounce back in front of his home crowd. Known for his precise striking and defensive capabilities, Edwards aims to prove that his previous defeat was nothing more than a rare off-night.

Facing him is the ever-dangerous Sean Brady, a grappling specialist looking to continue his climb towards a title shot. Brady has rebounded well from his sole career defeat against Muhammad at UFC 280, securing victories over Kelvin Gastelum and Gilbert Burns to boost his record to 17-1. This clash of styles – Edwards’ refined striking against Brady’s relentless grappling – promises to be an intriguing chess match.

Co-Main Event: Jan Błachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg (Light Heavyweight Bout)

Former light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz is determined to prove he still belongs among the division’s elite. Despite failing to secure wins in his last two outings – a split draw against Magomed Ankalaev and a close decision loss to Alex Pereira – Błachowicz remains a dangerous force with knockout power and experienced grappling.

His opponent, Carlos Ulberg, enters this matchup riding a seven-fight winning streak, including a spectacular 12-second knockout of Alonzo Menifield. The City Kickboxing product has shown rapid development and composure, most recently earning a unanimous decision win over Volkan Oezdemir. A victory over Błachowicz would propel Ulberg into the top-tier conversation of the light heavyweight division.

Gunnar Nelson vs. Kevin Holland (Welterweight Bout)

Fan-favorite Gunnar Nelson returns to London, where he holds a strong 5-1 record fighting under the UFC banner. The Icelandic submission artist is coming off back-to-back wins, including a slick submission victory over Bryan Barberena.

Meanwhile, Kevin Holland seeks to bounce back after two consecutive losses, most recently suffering a quick submission defeat to Reinier de Ridder at UFC 311. Known for his entertaining fight style and knockout power, Holland will be eager to get back in the win column, but will need to avoid Nelson’s slick grappling game.

Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara (Strawweight Bout)

Liverpool’s own Molly McCann is back in front of her home fans, hoping to avoid a second straight loss. The fan-favorite dropped her most recent fight against Bruna Brasil and now finds herself on a 1-3 skid. However, “Meatball” McCann has proven herself resilient and will be eager to put on a show.

Debuting opponent Alexia Thainara steps in on short notice after impressing on Dana White’s Contender Series. The Brazilian’s aggression and striking prowess could pose a real threat to McCann if she struggles to find her rhythm.

Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan (Lightweight Bout)

It’s an all-British battle as former Cage Warriors champion Jordan Vucenic takes on Scotland’s Chris Duncan. Vucenic, known for his grappling and durability, is looking to rebound from a decision loss to Guram Kutateladze in his UFC debut.

Duncan, a Dana White’s Contender Series alum, boasts an impressive record of 3-1 in the UFC, showcasing his submission skills and knockout power. This contest has the potential to be a show-stealer with both men eager to impress.

Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charriere (Featherweight Bout)

This featherweight clash sees Nathaniel Wood face off against France’s Morgan Charriere. “The Prospect” has been solid at 145 pounds, with a 4-1 record since moving to the division. His technical striking and grappling give him a well-rounded edge.

However, Charriere’s explosive power and all-action style have made him a fan favorite. With two wins in his last three UFC appearances, including knockout victories, he will be looking to break into the rankings with an upset over Wood.

Preliminary Card Highlights

• Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla (Lightweight Bout): Herbert, a familiar face at The O2 Arena, faces rising talent Padilla, who is riding a five-fight winning streak.
• Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos (Flyweight Bout): Both fighters are looking to continue their climb up the rankings, with Kavanagh having an impressive UFC debut last year.
• Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin (Heavyweight Bout): Veteran Tybura seeks to halt the momentum of the undefeated Parkin, who has been on a tear since joining the UFC.
• Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulyaev (Middleweight Bout): Duncan aims to bounce back after a rough start to his UFC career against DWCS graduate Pulyaev.
• Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar (Strawweight Bout): Two international prospects meet in a battle for recognition and a potential climb up the strawweight ranks.
• Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan Loughran (Bantamweight Bout): Fletcher, a TUF alum, faces former Cage Warriors champion Loughran in what could be an intense grappling affair.
• Guram Kutateladze vs. Kaue Fernandes (Lightweight Bout): Kutateladze looks to build on his recent win, while Fernandes aims to continue his rise after an impressive first-round knockout in his last outing.

Final Thoughts

UFC London promises an exciting night of fights, with Leon Edwards’ return to the O2 Arena against Sean Brady headlining an action-packed card. From intriguing matchups between rising stars to potential title contenders, this event should deliver plenty of fireworks.

ACE Leans:

Note: These leans are not financial advice and are merely suggestions by our traders as to where they see the most value. Gamble responsibly.

Guram Kutateladze by Decision or Technical Decision @ 1.92

Caloan Loughran ML & Over 1.5 Rounds @ 2.62

Puja Tomar ML @ 2.55

Christian Leroy Duncan ML & Over 1.5 Rounds @ 2.08

Marcin Tybura ML & Over 1.5 @ 2.82

Lone’er Kavanagh by Decision or Technical Decision @ 1.88

Chris Padilla ML @ 2.00

Morgan Charriere ML @ 1.78

Jordan Vucenic By KO, TKO, DQ or Submission @ 1.91

Molly McCann ML @ 2.79

Kevin Holland ML @ 2.10

Carlos Ulberg ML & Over 1.5 Rounds @ 1.91 

Sean Brady by Submission or Decision @ 1.80