Michael Bisping makes Anderson Silva comparison when outlining Leon Edwards’ path to victory at UFC London
Michael Bisping has insisted Leon Edwards must take a leaf out of Anderson Silva’s book as the ex-world champion looks to bounce back at UFC London. Edwards makes his UFC return this weekend against Sean Brady to decide who will contend for the welterweight title next. Edwards faces Philadelphia’s Brady at UFC London in the O2 Arena this weekendGetty ‘Rocky’ is looking to reclaim his title after losing it to Belal Muhammad in Manchestergetty ‘Rocky’ lost the welterweight strap to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester last July and will contest America’s Brady this weekend in his first fight since. Bisping, a pioneer of British MMA and former UFC champion in his own right, will be on live commentary at the O2 Arena for UFC London on Saturday night. Speaking ahead of the huge event this weekend, ‘The Count’ compared Edwards’ situation to the likes of MMA legend Silva when revealing how the Birmingham native can get past Brady. “He was tired and had an off night [against Muhammad],” TNT Sports UFC pundit Bisping said. “And that’s the problem, because you do have off nights. As a champion, if you have an off night, often it can cost you your world title. “That’s why you’ve got to respect these people like Anderson Silva or Jon Jones that go on so long. “Even though they still have off nights, they can still remain the champion.” Silva won the UFC middleweight title in 2006 and defended the belt ten times over the following six years. ‘The Spider’ holds the current record for the longest winning streak in the promotion with 16, which he also achieved during that period. Jones, meanwhile, is the UFC heavyweight champion and is expected to defend the title against Briton Tom Aspinall this year. GettyBisping said Edwards needs to put Brady on the back foot and punish him[/caption] The Brit also said Edwards can’t allow himself to be backed up against the cageTNT Sports “Against Belal, Edwards allowed himself to get backed up against the fence,” Bisping added. “That allowed Belal to shoot and join his hands together. Once you join your hands together, it’s kind of over anyway. “He can’t let Sean Brady back him up against the fence, which he has done that a lot in the past. He’s got to stay off that fence like his life depends on it. “I’ve trained with world-class wrestlers and they can’t take you down against the fence. In the open, it’s very different. “If they time it and they get to your legs and you’ve got no fence to lean on, that’s much, much harder. “So Leon does back up against the fence because of that. But he’s got to abandon that in this one because he’s got to go forward. Edwards faces Brady in the main event of UFC LondontalkSPORT The Birmingham native has lost just three of his 15 fights in UFCGetty Images - Getty “He’s got to put Brady on the back foot. He’s got to punish him. He’s got to land. He’s got to get respect. “And he’s got to make sure Brady doesn’t doubt himself by cracking him in the head with whatever it is.” Edwards won the 170lb belt after scoring one of an incredible knockout over Kamaru Usman in August 2022. The 33-year-old was losing the fight in the fifth and final round of his main event clash with Usman at UFC 278 before a head kick knocked Usman out cold. ‘Rocky’ then defended the belt against the Nigerian seven months later before retaining it once again at UFC 296 against Colby Covington. He then dropped the belt to Muhammad in Manchester by unanimous decision, losing three of the five rounds. UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady full card Main card 8pm Welterweight: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady Light heavyweight: Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Gunnar Nelson Women’s strawweight: Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara Lightweight: Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charriere Prelims 5pm Lightweight: Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla Flyweight: Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulyaev Women’s strawweight: Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar Bantamweight: Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan Loughran Lightweight: Guram Kutateladze vs. Kaue Fernandes The 33-year-old cited the 5am start time as one of the main reasons for his sluggish performance on the night and has promised to bounce back at UFC London against Brady. The main event is set to be a spectacle in a matchup of two styles as Brady’s elite grappling skills meets Edwards’ lethal kickboxing prowess. Watch UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady exclusively live on TNT Sports and discovery+ from 5pm on Saturday 22nd March Where to buy UFC London tickets *If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
Michael Bisping has insisted Leon Edwards must take a leaf out of Anderson Silva’s book as the ex-world champion looks to bounce back at UFC London.
Edwards makes his UFC return this weekend against Sean Brady to decide who will contend for the welterweight title next.
‘Rocky’ lost the welterweight strap to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester last July and will contest America’s Brady this weekend in his first fight since.
Bisping, a pioneer of British MMA and former UFC champion in his own right, will be on live commentary at the O2 Arena for UFC London on Saturday night.
Speaking ahead of the huge event this weekend, ‘The Count’ compared Edwards’ situation to the likes of MMA legend Silva when revealing how the Birmingham native can get past Brady.
“He was tired and had an off night [against Muhammad],” TNT Sports UFC pundit Bisping said.
“And that’s the problem, because you do have off nights. As a champion, if you have an off night, often it can cost you your world title.
“That’s why you’ve got to respect these people like Anderson Silva or Jon Jones that go on so long.
“Even though they still have off nights, they can still remain the champion.”
Silva won the UFC middleweight title in 2006 and defended the belt ten times over the following six years.
‘The Spider’ holds the current record for the longest winning streak in the promotion with 16, which he also achieved during that period.
Jones, meanwhile, is the UFC heavyweight champion and is expected to defend the title against Briton Tom Aspinall this year.
“Against Belal, Edwards allowed himself to get backed up against the fence,” Bisping added.
“That allowed Belal to shoot and join his hands together. Once you join your hands together, it’s kind of over anyway.
“He can’t let Sean Brady back him up against the fence, which he has done that a lot in the past. He’s got to stay off that fence like his life depends on it.
“I’ve trained with world-class wrestlers and they can’t take you down against the fence. In the open, it’s very different.
“If they time it and they get to your legs and you’ve got no fence to lean on, that’s much, much harder.
“So Leon does back up against the fence because of that. But he’s got to abandon that in this one because he’s got to go forward.
“He’s got to put Brady on the back foot. He’s got to punish him. He’s got to land. He’s got to get respect.
“And he’s got to make sure Brady doesn’t doubt himself by cracking him in the head with whatever it is.”
Edwards won the 170lb belt after scoring one of an incredible knockout over Kamaru Usman in August 2022.
The 33-year-old was losing the fight in the fifth and final round of his main event clash with Usman at UFC 278 before a head kick knocked Usman out cold.
‘Rocky’ then defended the belt against the Nigerian seven months later before retaining it once again at UFC 296 against Colby Covington.
He then dropped the belt to Muhammad in Manchester by unanimous decision, losing three of the five rounds.
UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady full card
Main card 8pm
- Welterweight: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady
- Light heavyweight: Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg
- Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Gunnar Nelson
- Women’s strawweight: Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara
- Lightweight: Jordan Vucenic vs. Chris Duncan
- Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood vs. Morgan Charriere
Prelims 5pm
- Lightweight: Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla
- Flyweight: Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Felipe dos Santos
- Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin
- Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulyaev
- Women’s strawweight: Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar
- Bantamweight: Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan Loughran
- Lightweight: Guram Kutateladze vs. Kaue Fernandes
The 33-year-old cited the 5am start time as one of the main reasons for his sluggish performance on the night and has promised to bounce back at UFC London against Brady.
The main event is set to be a spectacle in a matchup of two styles as Brady’s elite grappling skills meets Edwards’ lethal kickboxing prowess.
Watch UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady exclusively live on TNT Sports and discovery+ from 5pm on Saturday 22nd March
Where to buy UFC London tickets
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue. Please note that Stubhub and Viagogo are ticket resale sites and as such, tickets may be listed at above face value prices.
With the UFC only coming to the UK a handful of times per year, the opportunity to see MMA’s biggest stars in action can be limited.
However, this month UK-based MMA fans will have the opportunity to see the excitement live as the UFC returns to the 02 arena for UFC Fight Night 254, Edwards vs Brady.
See some of the UK’s finest as Leon Edwards, Molly McCann, Nathaniel Wood and more take to the Octagon in what’s set to be a thrilling night of fights.
To get tickets to UFC London, follow the links below.
UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady (02 Arena, 22 March)
- UFC London tickets at Ticketmaster, from £308.40 – buy here
- UFC London tickets at Vivid Seats, from £316 – buy here
- UFC London tickets at Stubhub, from £181 – buy here
- UFC London tickets at Viagogo, from £209 – buy here
For fans looking for an unrivalled Fight Night experience, Seat Unique offers UFC London hospitality packages complete with floor-level seating, UFC athlete appearances, post-fight Octagon experiences and more.
Get your UFC London hospitality tickets below.
UFC London hospitality tickets (02 Arena, 22 March)
- UFC London hospitality at Seat Unique, from £4,599 – buy here
