Sean Brady believes he knows exactly how to secure the next title shot in the welterweight division.
The UFC welterweight title will be up for grabs later this year when newly crowned champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is expected to defend his belt against former lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC).
With the matchup rumored for the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden in November, Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) wants to make sure he’s part of that card as well—ideally in a high-stakes clash against undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC).
“I seen through a little birdie that Shavkat was saying something about him coming back in November or December, so if he’s coming back in November, I want to fight soon, but I would wait and fight him at MSG on the same card as Jack and Islam, and then that’s a true No. 1 contender’s fight,” Brady said on The BradyBagz Show. “Because he was guaranteed a (title) fight, I beat the No. 1 guy, whoever wins that will be the true No. 1 contender, so I would like to do that. We’re going to reach out this week and see if that’s an option.”
Brady, currently ranked No. 2 in the welterweight division, was last seen in action at UFC London in March, where he dominated Leon Edwards and submitted the former champion in the fourth round.
The Philadelphia native had been hoping for a quick turnaround, but so far hasn’t been able to lock in the right matchup.
“I have been trying to fight since my last fight,” Brady said. “They called us about a month ago and asked about me and Ian (Machado Garry) for Chicago. I was in, didn’t hear anything from the UFC or anything after that. So a couple of weeks go by, last week Lloyd (Pierson) reaches out—our manager who also manages Ian—they’re like, ‘What do you guys want to do?’
“At this point, October 4, there’s rumors Joe Pyfer might be on that card, might not be on that card, I’m like, ‘Let me get on that card.’ That’s in Las Vegas. And then there’s a Vancouver card, I was like, ‘Or let us main event that.’ Haven’t heard anything back.”
“It’s ass because I was No. 1, now I’m No. 2,” Brady said. “I was calling this kid (Machado Garry) out for months who’s No. 6, and nothing’s happening. I’m not saying Ian’s scared to fight me. I don’t think Ian’s scared to fight anybody, but I don’t know what he wants or what is going on with him. If he’s trying to sit for a title, I don’t know what is going on with that, but from what I’ve heard Usman and Belal are probably fighting, so that takes those guys off the table for me. It just sucks where I’m at. I’m trying to get a fight and I don’t want to go back too far. Ian’s already No. 6, so I don’t know who else is there.”
“I will say this also though, if I’m not going to get a top 5 guy and Ian’s not going to fight me, I would love to beat Colby Covington’s ass,” Brady added. “I would fight him just to stay active. ... I don’t like the shit that he does. I would like to beat him the f*ck up. There’s no one in the UFC I don’t actually like besides Colby. I don’t like Colby, so I’ll beat up Colby.”
