[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] thinks the blueprint to beat [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] is there for [autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag].
Former champion Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) meets Brady (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 255 (ESPN+) main event at The O2 in London.
Usman fought Edwards three times. Although he lost two of their three bouts, he was able to find plenty of success with his wrestling. Belal Muhammad was also able to overwhelm Edwards with his grappling to dethrone him at UFC 304, and Usman sees Brady being able to do the same.
“This is no shade in any way, shape, form, or fashion, but Leon, there’s a blueprint to something that, to beat a fighter like you, and that’s forward pressure,” Usman said on “Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry.” “That’s the up-and-downs, the mixing of the wrestling with the striking, the takedowns, continuous takedowns and/or takedown attempts. These are some things that throw you off your game and this is something that’s been proven that, with time, wears you out. Yes, you’ve gotten exponentially better at defending up against the cage, you’ve gotten better at getting back up once being taken down with the cage. These are things that you’ve worked on, these are things that are great for you, but that doesn’t negate the fact that you do allow yourself to be taken down.
“Your offensive wrestling is not the greatest, and when you’re going up against a guy like Sean Brady, who will continue to attempt (takedowns). His jiu-jitsu is top tier once he gets on top and he’s able to control you. He can find that finish. So this is where I find it problematic, that statement of Leon saying, ‘If Belal is able to finish him, I can finish him, as well.’ That’s not the case, because like the blueprint I used when I was fighting Leon, the blueprint that Belal used when he was fighting Leon I believe is the blueprint Sean Brady is going to implement when fighting Leon Edwards. If Leon Edwards has changed that game, then I can see him winning, but if he hasn’t, I don’t see a clear path to victory for him.”
Usman ultimately picked Brady to beat Edwards.
“Sean Brady is just going to implement the exact same game plan,” Usman concluded. “Sean Brady’s ability to wrestle offensively is greater than Leon’s ability to wrestle offensively. I believe Sean Brady is going to implement that – of course, hit us with the mixtures, with the up and downs, eventually get the takedown, ride out those takedowns, and that has proven to wear Leon out over time. I see Sean Brady being able to pull this one out. If I had to pick, I would go with Sean Brady.”
[lawrence-related id=2811860,2811847,2811689,2811505]
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.