Brady cruises past Burns in UFC main event

Rising welterweight Sean Brady defeated former title challenger Gilbert Burns via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) in the UFC Fight Night main event Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The victory was the biggest of Brady's career and likely puts him in line for a top-five opponent next. Going into the bout, Burns was ranked No. 6 and Brady was No. 8.

Brady put on his most complete performance to date in what was his first five-round fight. Known as one of the best wrestlers in the 170-pound division, Brady relied on his ground game at times against Burns, though his best work arguably came on the feet. Brady outstruck Burns, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace, 130-47 in significant strikes.

"Gilbert's a tough motherf----r," Brady said in his postfight interview. "But I knew that coming into this. I knew I was gonna train so hard for this fight. Five (five-minute rounds) in the gym is a lot different than five fives in here. But I just stayed mentally and physically focused."

Brady completed seven of 17 takedowns, becoming the first person to earn three or more against Burns since 2016. Burns also became just the second fighter to take Brady down in the UFC, converting one of six attempts.

Though some of the rounds were competitive, Brady was one step ahead for most of the fight. In the first two stanzas, Brady was busier and picked apart Burns in the stand-up department. Then, in the third, Brady tied Burns up against the fence before getting on top of Burns for the first time and controlling him.

Brady shut down Burns' offense in the last 10 minutes by consistently landing punches and kicks. Brady scored a takedown late in the fifth to seal the victory.

"I feel like I did a lot better work on the feet than I did on the ground," Brady said. "He was hard to get down."

Brady said he wants to face No. 7-ranked welterweight Ian Machado Garry next if he doesn't secure a top-five opponent.

Brady is now riding a two-fight winning streak and is 16-1 as a pro. The 31-year-old's only career loss came against current UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad via second-round TKO in October 2022.

Burns, 38, has now lost three in a row for the first time in his career.