Following the events of UFC 315, Philadelphia’s Sean Brady has accepted his current standing within the welterweight division.
Brady remains the top-ranked contender at #1. His impressive victory over Leon Edwards at UFC London in March, making him the first fighter to finish the former champion, would typically position him for a title opportunity.
However, a direct title shot appears unlikely at this moment. All signs point towards a potential super-fight between lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and the new welterweight king, Jack Della Maddalena, who recently secured the title by defeating Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 last weekend.
This development leaves the division`s #1 contender, Sean Brady, needing to assess his next move.
Sean Brady Anticipates Another Fight Before Title Opportunity
Despite his dominant 18-1 record and his win over Edwards, Brady anticipated that a title fight wouldn`t be his immediate next step if Jack Della Maddalena emerged victorious at UFC 315.
“I knew if Jack won that I’d be fighting again,” Brady stated during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. “I’m fine with [it].”
While a title shot is his ultimate goal, Brady acknowledged the competitive landscape. “Of course I want the title shot,” he said, “but there’s still Shavkat [Rakhmonov] there. There’s Islam saying he’s moving up. You have Kamaru [Usman] and [Joaquin] Buckley saying whoever wins that’s getting a title shot, so we’re all gonna have to fight.”
Sean Brady Considers Ian Machado Garry as Next Opponent
With the welterweight ranks filled with hungry contenders, Brady is looking towards a potential clash with the #6-ranked Ian Machado Garry.
Machado Garry recently defeated Carlos Prates but is coming off a prior loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. Despite the recent loss, Machado Garry had expressed a desire for a title shot. Given that the top contenders may have to wait for the championship picture to clear up, Brady believes a fight with `The Future` makes strategic sense now.
“I’m gonna have to fight Ian Garry eventually,” Brady remarked regarding a possible next opponent. “Why not just do it now and just get it out of the way?”
Brady also mentioned the possibility of fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov for a number one contender spot, but noted that Rakhmonov is currently injured and not expected to return until late this year or potentially next year. Brady recounted interacting with Garry at the recent event, telling him directly, “Me and you, that’s what I think. I think me and you are gonna have to fight now because we can’t all wait around for a title shot,” Brady explained.
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