UFC London LIVE: Results and reaction as Leon Edwards is submitted by Sean Brady

Leon Edwards was submitted by Sean Brady on his return from losing his welterweight title last summer at UFC London.

Edwards enjoyed a bright start as he looked to bounce back from defeat to now-champion Belal Muhammad, starting on the front foot and landing numerous significant strikes.

But from the second round onwards, Brady dominated on the ground in a bout that drew easy comparisons to his title-losing fight to Muhammad at UFC 304.

Sean Brady def. Leon Edwards via fourth-round submission (guillotine, 1:39)

Carlos Ulberg def. Jan Blachowicz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Kevin Holland def. Gunnar Nelson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Alexia Thainara def. Molly McCann via first-round submission (rear naked choke, 4:32)

Chris Duncan def. Jordan Vucenic via second-round submission (guillotine, 3:42)

Nathaniel Wood def. Morgan Charriere via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Chris Padilla def. Jai Herbert via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Lone’er Kavanagh def. Felipe dos Santos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Marcin Tybura def. Mick Parkin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Christian Leroy Duncan def. Andrey Pulyaev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

Shauna Bannon def. Puja Tomar via second-round submission (armbar, 3:32)

Caolan Loughran def. Nathan Fletcher via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Kaue Fernandes def. Guram Kutateladze via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Outside of tonight’s main event, the big headline of UFC London was Molly McCann’s retirement.

She laid down her gloves following defeat to Alexia Thainara, who she took on short notice.

You really felt Leon Edwards needed to win tonight to force his way back into the title picture.

He lacks that appeal with American audiences, and as such, he needs big results to reach the upper echelons. Case in point, it took a 10-fight win streak for him to get a shot at the title in the first place.

Brady, on the other hand, will be right in the mix and could face the winner of JDM and Belal Muhammad later this year.

Round four

Into the championship rounds. Edwards is on the back foot to start and is getting pieced before, once again, being taken down.

He goes for the guillotine again, and this time he sinks it in. Edwards is trapped, and he TAPS.

Sean Brady def. Leon Edwards via fourth-round submission (guillotine, 1:39)

Edwards started well. But from that second round, it just looked like the Belal Muhammad fight all over again. That might be it for Leon’s title aspirations.

Round three

Brady starts on the offensive but is caught with a nice right by Leon who counters nicely. Brady then shoots for the takedown but is well stuffed by Edwards.

It doesn’t take long until Brady does have him back to the mat, though. He’s got him a guillotine before transitioning to full mount. Then in butterfly, he rains in five or six fists and Edwards needs to get out of immediate danger.

Brady keeps the back as Leon gets up to a knee. One minute to go and this is already a guaranteed Brady round. He’s just chipping away at Leon, just like Belal did last summer.

The claxon sounds and Brady is at least 2-1 up here. Maybe worse. Edwards has serious work to do.

Round two

Brady doesn’t take so long to shoot for the double-leg this time and gets Edwards to the ground within the first 10 seconds.

He has the back in a body triangle and he isn’t letting go anytime soon. Shots from behind the head come.

With two minutes to, Leon makes his attempt at an escape but is trapped as Brady takes butterfly guard. He continues to rain in strikes as the round enters its close.

After a bright start, it’s these rounds Leon has to avoid.