Leon Edwards is gearing up for his comeback fight this weekend at UFC Fight Night 255, where he will face off against Sean Brady at the O2 Arena in London on March 22, 2025. This will mark Edwards's first match since he lost the UFC welterweight title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 last July, where he suffered his first defeat since 2015.
Having not tasted defeat for nearly nine years, Edwards (22-4) described his mindset heading toward this important matchup. "The mindset now is just ready to kill. I feel like there’s a lot I’ve got to put right since the last fight and that's where I’m at really. Just getting everything perfect," he stated in a recent video posted on his YouTube channel.
Edwards, who held the welterweight championship for 16 months, encountered difficulties against Muhammad, who employed effective wrestling and grappling strategies leading to his unanimous decision loss. "To be fair, I couldn’t care less who it was. I’ve faced many styles like [Brady] before. There are things he does well but also things he does poorly, so it’s just about getting the game plan right for fight night," Edwards added.
Brady, with an impressive record of 17-1, enters this battle with confidence following two significant victories over Kelvin Gastelum and former title challenger Gilbert Burns. His lone career loss came against Muhammad by TKO at UFC 280 back in October 2022. Brady’s wrestling-heavy fighting style poses challenges similar to those Edwards faced against Muhammad.
Despite these challenges, Edwards remains focused solely on this match, insisting, "I’m focused on Sean Brady right now. I’m going to go out there in London, get rid of him and then title shot next for me." With Brady's last two victories, both fighters are aiming to position themselves as strong contenders for the title once more.
Having faced tough challenges and setbacks since his initial encounters with Kamaru Usman, which included being knocked out by him at UFC 279, Edwards is prepared to redeem himself. His last fight, which took place at UFC 304 early one Sunday morning, was another significant hurdle. "That 4am/5am walkout was madness. I tried my best to get to it, but I just couldn’t. I just feel like my reactions were slow... even though he got the win, it was still close," he recalled.
UFC has expressed confidence, announcing, "The winner of this fight will challenge for the welterweight title next." Belal Muhammad, who defeated Edwards, is scheduled to defend his championship against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 this May. Edwards, meanwhile, is eager to face Muhammad again if he wins against Brady. "I’d love to run it back with Belal... I truly believe I am the best fighter between me and him, and I’ve just got to go out there and prove it again," Edwards declared.
This fight night is anticipated to be electrifying, with many fans looking forward to seeing Edwards back home after his title defeat. The main card features several notable bouts, including fighters like Tom Aspinall and Paddy Pimblett, who won during UFC 304. His win will not only help him regain confidence but also solidify his status as one of the top fighters.
Brady's ascent through the ranks has not been as fast-tracked as it could have been but has nonetheless seen him evolve as he now approaches one of the biggest challenges of his career. Having made his UFC debut with ten consecutive wins culminating against seasoned fighters, Brady is prepared for this moment. "If I can take out Edwards, it gives me the juice I need to call for my rematch against Muhammad should he defend his title," he stated.
Following his victory over Burns by unanimous decision, Brady expressed determination to use this fight as the stepping stone he needs toward being part of the title conversation. Edwards is aware of this, creating the stakes of the match even more significant.
"I’m going in there to hurt him. It’s not just about Sean, it’s about what I need to put right... especially with the performance I’m going to put on, 100 per cent," Edwards concluded confidently.
