Sean Brady was able to outwork and outstrike Gilbert Burns tonight in the main event of UFC Fight Night 242 to earn a unanimous decision victory.
Round One:
The welterweight main event is underway in Las Vegas!
Inside leg kick for Brady. Burns attempts a jumping knee to the body, but Brady moves out the way.
Inside leg kick again from Brady. Brady pumps the left hook repeatedly. Another low kick for Brady.
Double jab for Brady. Jab from Burns as he just steers clear of a knee. Quick flurry of light punches from Brady.
Double leg attempt from Burns, but Brady barely hits the mat before he scrambles right back up. Burns remains clinched up, but Brady walks him away over to the cage then breaks free.
Now it’s Brady who strikes his way into the clinch against the cage. Light punches to the thigh from Brady. He tries to go for a takedown, but Burns prevents it.
Burns able to circle around to gain the advantage in the clinch, but it’s not long before Brady returns the favor. Briefly they go to the mat, but then back up.
Brady back into the clinch against the cage. Brady able to drag Burns to the mat, but he stands up quickly. Brady still embracing the clinch work though, but as the round comes to a close it’s Burns who reverse the position.
Round Two:
Brady with a body kick and Burns lands a big punch and wobbles Brady! Brady quickly regroups though and gets back into the clinch. Brady seems ok for now. Burns able to reverse the clinch again and then they go back to striking range.
Brady pressing forward with punches. Burns just covering up to let these strikes come off the guard as Brady comes in again.
Burns lets his hands go for a moment and Brady goes back to the clinch. Burns getting more aggressive when there’s moments to strike. Brady relentlessly pursuing the clinch opportunities though.
Burns with strikes and lands a takedown. Brady able to get up. Right hand lands for Brady. He lands a punch and a doubles up on the jab. Now a hook and an uppercut.
Round Three:
Jab for Burns. Now a calf kick. A kick lands to the body too. Leg kick for Brady. Reaching right hand for Burns.
Burns turn to go into the clinch against the cage now. And Brady reverses the position. Brady thinking about a takedown, but noting doing and Burns manufactures a chance to break free.
Nice right hand from Brady and then back to the clinch. Burns reverses. He tries for a single-leg but nothing doing. They jockey for position now as they move away from the cage, then go back to it with Burns in control. Brady breaks away then goes straight back in trying for a single-leg.
Brady can’t get the takedown and goes back to striking range. He unleashes a nice combination. Now Burns with knees to the body.
Jab for Burns. Burns in on a takedown, but while Brady goes to a knee he gets straight back up. Now it’s Brady’s turn to go for a takedown and slams Burns to the mat. He’s able to keep Burns flat on his back in the final seconds of the round.
Round Four:
Left hook for Brady. Kick from Brady strays to the groin and forces a brief stoppage while Burns gets time to recover.
Jab for Brady, but then he takes a kick right to the groin that sends him to the canvas and leads to another recovery time-out.
Both fighters get warned before getting back to action. A few glancing kicks from Burns. Nice low kick from Brady.
Body kick for Brady. Now a left hand. One-two for Burns. calf kick for Brady. Series of jabs from Brady. Nice right hand gets through for Burns.
Right hook glances the target from Brady and Burns responds with a cleaner one. Brady punches into the clinch.
Burns trying to punch his way out of the clinch, but Brady stays in there and stifles him. Burns able to circle away now.
Combination of punches down the pipe from Brady and then a good takedown. Burns gets his back to the cage and starts to stand. Brady drags him back down. Burns tried to roll but Brady adjusts. Burns looks for a submission though and then uses that to transition on top.
Brady stands with Burns still clinched to his back. Burns hoists Brady up and dumps him to the mat, but Brady pops straight back up.
Round Five:
Brady with a few punches off Burns guard. Swing and a miss from Burns. calf kick for Brady. Right hand for Brady. One-two now.
Burns with a straight right. Glancing left hook from Brady. Brady with more punches, but a knee to the chest from Burns leads to his foot also striking the groin and that forces a time-out yet again. Not much impact there, but Brady takes a breather and then they get back to it.
Brady with a couple of solid punches. Good chopping kicks to the inside of the leg from Brady. He lands another. Low kick from Burns. He lands a jumping knee to the body. Brady into the clinch with half the round remaining.
Burns turns into him and tries to swing for the fences, but misses. Brady into the clinch and then lands a nice takedown to get Burns on his back.
Burns uses an omaplata to work back to his feet now. Brady still clinched up though and ends up in side control. Burns gets him to half-guard. Burns tries for a leg lock but Brady adjusts and stays in control on top.
Burns works back to his feet, but Brady picks him up and drops him down one final time before the fight comes to an end.
Decision:
Brady utilized a lot of grinding clinch work here, but he also was the one pushing the pace and throwing significantly more strikes on the feet too, ensuring he earns himself a decisive unanimous decision victory (50-45 x2, 49-46).
