Sean Brady Hopes for Top Fight After Morales Loss

The welterweight contender is eyeing former champions after his first-round TKO defeat.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Sean Brady was on the cusp of title contention after dominating ex-champion Leon Edwards, but opted to take a risky fight against undefeated Michael Morales, which resulted in a first-round TKO loss. Despite the setback, Brady is still eyeing big fights against former champions like Kamaru Usman and Belal Muhammad, believing he deserves a high-profile matchup next.

Why it matters

Brady's loss to Morales was a setback in his quest for a title shot, but he remains confident he can still draw a top-ranked opponent. His willingness to take risks and stay active has put him in position to potentially fight elite welterweights, which could have major implications for the UFC's 170-pound division.

The details

After dominating ex-champion Leon Edwards, Brady opted to book a fight against undefeated Michael Morales, which resulted in a first-round TKO loss. Despite the setback, Brady believes he is still in front of Kamaru Usman in the rankings and deserves a fight against the former champion or another top-ranked welterweight like Belal Muhammad.

  • Brady defeated Leon Edwards in the UFC Fight Night 255 headliner.
  • Brady then lost to Michael Morales via first-round TKO.

The players

Sean Brady

A welterweight contender with an 18-2 MMA record and 8-2 UFC record, who was on the cusp of title contention before his recent loss to Michael Morales.

Michael Morales

An undefeated welterweight prospect who defeated Sean Brady via first-round TKO.

Kamaru Usman

A former UFC welterweight champion who Brady believes he deserves to fight next.

Belal Muhammad

A top-ranked welterweight contender who Brady is also interested in fighting.

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What they’re saying

“Ian Garry is going to fight Islam (Makhachev) next – that's just what I think. Maybe Morales and JDM (Della Maddalena), then you got Belal (Muhammad), I don't know what they're doing with Belal. There's Kamaru (Usman) right there, I'd like to fight Kamaru. I would like to fight Belal. I just don't know what they're waiting for.”

— Sean Brady (BradyBagz Show)

What’s next

Brady is hoping to have a fight booked for April as he looks to bounce back from his loss to Morales and potentially earn a matchup against a former champion like Usman or a top contender like Muhammad.

The takeaway

Despite the setback against Morales, Brady remains confident he can still draw a high-profile fight against an elite welterweight. His willingness to take risks and stay active has put him in position to potentially fight the division's best, but he'll need to bounce back from the Morales loss to solidify his status as a top contender.