Sean Brady reflects on UFC 280 loss to Belal Muhammad, addresses online trolls

UFC welterweight contender Sean Brady admits the stage was too big when he fought now-champion Belal Muhammad.

It was October 2022 when a then-undefeated and slightly favored Brady (17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) stepped into the cage at UFC 280 to face Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC). The feature preliminary bout was a big one for both fighters who were knocking on the door of title contention.

Muhammad won the fight by second round TKO, ending Brady’s undefeated run. The result was a reality check of sorts for the Philadelphia-born fighter.

“Back in 2022 when I lost to Belal, I wasn’t ready for these big fights and these big moments,” Brady said on “The BradyBagz Show.” “The old Sean Brady had to die. I became a new version of myself, and then since becoming a dad, I feel like that’s became a different level of who I am.”

While Brady says he has evolved as a fighter and as a person away from fighting, one thing he can’t seem to escape is the trolls online in comment sections who love to bring up the only loss of his professional career. It’s something that Brady laughs at now since he’s moved on and learned from the moment.

In fact, Brady is confident that when he meets Muhammad inside the cage again, the result will be much different than their first fight.

“Didn’t get dropped, completely fine afterwards – like, brother, he is the UFC champion,” Brady said. “If me and Belal fight 10 times, I’m winning nine of them. I lost the one. It’s OK, and I don’t talk like that because I know I’m going to get my get back. Y’all can be in the comments and say that. I am No. 5 in the UFC. Y’all are out here writing in the comments of my show, of my sh*t.”

Brady has rebounded nicely with wins over a pair of former UFC title challengers in Kelvin Gastelum (interim middleweight) and Gilbert Burns.

On March 22, Brady will get another chance to firmly put his name in title contention when he takes on former champion Leon Edwards at UFC Fight Night 255 in London. It’s a road game for Brady, but a big main event that could likely earn a title shot.

“Three weeks out, I feel amazing,” Brady said. “Team, my body feel – everything’s amazing. We’re training hard as sh*t. We’re ready to f*cking go.”