UFC London LIVE: Result & analysis from Leon Edwards vs Sean Brady, Molly McCann retires

Summary

Briton Leon Edwards suffers defeat to American Sean Brady in London
Edwards slumps to second loss in a row for the first time in MMA career
Liverpudlian Molly McCann retires after submission loss to Alexia Thainara
Chris Duncan submits England's Jordan Vucenic in big win for Scot
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Live Reporting

Bobbie Jackson & Charlotte Coates

That's all from uspublished at 23:45 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Image source, Getty Images
It wasn't a great end to the night from a British perspective.
Not only did Leon Edwards fall to a second successive defeat - knocking his hopes of going back into a world title fight back a couple of steps - but we also saw Molly McCann announce her retirement.
McCann's decision to hang up the gloves, albeit a tough one to take from a fan point of view, seems the right one after losing four of her last five trips to the octagon.
There was success to celebrate earlier on the card with Britons Christian Leroy Duncan, Lone'er Kavanagh, Nathaniel Wood and Chris Duncan all winning, while Irish pair Caolan Loughran and Shauna Bannon also picked up victories.
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- Read Paul Battison's full report here
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Get Involvedpublished at 23:43 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
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Sad to see Molly retiring but probably the right decision. She always felt a slight step away from world level, but she gave absolutely everything and was a warrior in the ring. Hopefully, she's retiring healthy and can have a great second career.
David in Liverpool.
‘Where does Leon go from here?’published at 23:42 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Brady beats Edwards by submission
Sam Harris
BBC Sport at the O2 Arena
That’s the question bumbling around the journalists we’re sat with right now.
He heads back to the locker room with a bunch of fans still cheering him. Not the night he and many here expected.
McCann puts BBC Sport through hellpublished at 23:41 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
McCann retires after Thainara loss
We've dove into the archives and found our every own Sam Harris subjected himself to a training day with Molly McCann in 2019.
Poor decision.
Media caption,
Could you last three rounds with a UFC fighter?
The champion speaks!published at 23:40 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
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UFC welterweight contenderspublished at 23:37 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is booked in for his first defence on 10 May against Jack Della Maddalena.
Shavkat Rakhmonov, ranked number two, was initially scheduled to Muhammad but had to withdraw due to injury and will likely fight the winner of that title bout.
Ireland's Ian Machado Garry is ranked number seven and could provide an interesting next opponent for Leon Edwards.
What next for Edwards? And what next for Sean Brady?
Postpublished at 23:34 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Brady beats Edwards by submission
That is the first time Edwards has suffered back-to-back defeats in his career and just the fifth loss in 28 fights overall.
Of his previous four defeats, three were by decision and one by disqualification.
Edwards had never been submitted before tonight.
Where does he go from here?
Image source, Reuters
Moment of devastation for Edwardspublished at 23:32 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Brady beats Edwards by submission
It wasn't meant to be for Edwards tonight.
Image source, Getty Images
'I'm just short and that's alright'published at 23:29 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Brady beats Edwards by submission
Sean Brady speaking to TNT Sports: "I heard all week people saying I'm too small. I'm not small for welterweight, I was 190lb when they weighed me at the back. I'm just short and that's alright.
"I took this fight the day I got out of the hospital with my wife and our newborn baby. I knew I could do that and I think I belong in the top three for sure.
"Dana [White] gave me a wonderful opportunity to come out here. I love the UK fans, sorry I had to do that to your boy but lots of respect."
Image source, Getty Images
Straight to the exitpublished at 23:25 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Brady beats Edwards by submission
Sam Harris
BBC Sport at the O2 Arena
Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an arena empty so quickly.
There were fans heading for the exits in round three, a few stuck around but they knew how this one was ending.
Postpublished at 23:23 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Brady beats Edwards by submission
Brady was a late addition to this card - agreeing to step in just a month ago to replace Jack Della Maddalena, who jumped off to accept a bout against UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad on 10 May.
That's three successive wins for Brady after defeat against Muhammad in 2022.
He is on the climb.
Postpublished at 23:21 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Brady beats Edwards by submission
Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sports
That was about as dominant as you can get.
Round fourpublished at 23:20 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Edwards v Brady
Brady gets the submission!
Elite grappling skills.
Image source, Getty Images
Round fourpublished at 23:19 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Edwards v Brady
It takes Brady around 45 seconds to secure a takedown and this is starting to feel reminiscent of Edwards' defeat against Belal Muhammad in July.
Brady smothers Edwards as he gets full mount and locks in the guillotine.
This looks bad.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 23:18 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Edwards v Brady
"He's broken," was the message to Brady from his corner between rounds.
What has Edwards got in the tank? Can he turn this around?
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 23:18 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Edwards v Brady
Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sports
That was a terrible round for the former champion. It was a very dominant round for Sean Brady.
It’s all gone very quiet…published at 23:18 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Edwards v Brady
Sam Harris
BBC Sport at the O2 Arena
The atmosphere has definitely got a lot more tense in here. Brady perhaps catching a few people by surprise with his performance so far.
Round threepublished at 23:18 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Edwards v Brady
They end up on the cage with Brady on Edwards' back and starting to unload with his hands.
Edwards' corner claim the shots are to the back of the head but appear to be hitting the ear.
More boos as the buzzer signals the end of the round.
There's an argument Edwards took the first round but I've got Brady winning all three so far.
Postpublished at 23:16 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Edwards v Brady
Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sports
Sean Brady is just an absolute nightmare to be in there with.
Round threepublished at 23:16 Greenwich Mean Time 22 March
Edwards v Brady
Edwards postures up but Brady just puts all his weight on him and it's straight back to the canvas.
Brady sits in half guard and attempts to pass. Edwards turns and again starts to give up his back.
Brady is so smooth with his transitions and he dives in and sinks in the hooks. He flattens Edwards out on the floor for a moment as we enter the final minute.