When you look at the UFC today, Sean Brady stands out as something of an anomaly. A polished fighter with an enviable submission record and a career record of 18-2, the Philadelphia native prefers to let his performances do the talking rather than seek attention on social media or brag about his accomplishments.
This is a fighter who has beaten some of the best welterweights to step into the Octagon since his debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He forced Kelvin Gastelum to submit, defeated Gilbert Burns by unanimous decision and then came the biggest statement of his career – making former welterweight champion Leon Edwards tap out for his sixth UFC submission victory.
But Brady remains grounded. Calm, composed, and never overwhelmed – by either opponent or opportunity. So how does the 33-year-old manage? The answer lies in his blue-collar roots.
With his father working in construction and his mother a nurse, Brady believes his upbringing shaped the man he is today – someone built on hard work, discipline and a true love of MMA.
“I mean, it just shaped me as a person, the person that I am. I’m built on hard work and I’m going to stay in the gym. I keep my head down. I don’t do any of that fancy social media stuff and I don’t like making crazy videos or anything like that. I just love MMA. I love training and yeah, that’s it,” Brady said. Brady is now 18-2 (Courtesy: Getty)
He is not only defined by his upbringing. Becoming a father also gave him perspective and helped him realize that there is life beyond the Octagon.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s definitely made me a better fighter, but it’s also made me realize that the fight isn’t everything, and that there’s life after the fight and just enjoy it while I’m doing it. But it’s great to bring my family with me and they’re just part of my journey. And yeah, my team and I are my family. So this and we’re all in this together,” Brady said.
This mindset carries over into his life outside the cage. While he once envisioned a future in athletics, Brady now finds peace in the simple things – spending time with his family, riding his bike and being close to nature.
“I enjoy spending time with my family, spending time with my dog and my daughter. I love riding dirt bikes, mountain biking, being outdoors. It’s something I love to do,” Brady said.
But once the cage door closes, it’s a different story.
FOCUSING ON A TITLE RUN
Brady is well aware of the challenge ahead in what he calls the toughest division in the UFC.
“I think it’s the most stacked division in the UFC. It’s definitely the toughest division. From No. 1, champion to 15, anybody can be champion on any given night, especially top 10, top 5. It just gets tougher and tougher. I think it’s the best division in the UFC right now,” Brady said.
Still, he’s not obsessed with the title yet. Instead, he’s focused on his next steps, including his fight at UFC 328 against Joaquin Buckley.
“I’m realistic about the title. I think I’ve got to win at least 2 more games and then I’ll be right back in the conversation. I’ll win Saturday night and then I’ll win one more and then I’ll be right there. But I’m not worried about the title. Like I’ve said many times, whenever it comes, it comes. I’m taking this fight right now,” Brady said.
The Philadelphia native was on a three-fight winning streak before a setback against Michael Morales – a minor blip in his journey to the top.
Rather than overhaul his approach, Brady believes he will stick to his basics.
“Just trust my process and stay consistent with what I’m doing. When things don’t go my way, I just go back to my game plan and then work from there. And eventually it’ll work, it’ll start to work my way,” Brady said.
BEEF WITH BUCKLE
There is little love lost between Brady and Buckley heading into the fight, with Buckley often targeting him on social media.
But Brady isn’t making that noise.
“I don’t have beef with anybody. It’s not real. He says things on social media. It’s not real life. I live in the real world, so we’re going to go out there on Saturday and fight, and that’s it,” Brady said.
Undeterred by Buckley’s comments about slowing down the fight, Brady remains confident in dictating the pace.
“He wants to go slow with me? I’ll go slow with him. I’ll go fast with him. We can do whatever he wants, any kind of dance he wants. I’ll lead him,” Brady said.
Despite his calm demeanor, Brady admits that he still gets a little nervous before every fight.
“Yeah, I mean, you’re still nervous. You’re always going to get those butterflies. That’s a good feeling. You’ve just got to make the butterflies fly in the right direction. And just go out there and know you’ve done all the work to prepare for the fight and let the cards go where they go,” Brady said.
With the welterweight division getting tougher by the day, Brady’s approach may not grab the headlines, but it keeps him closer to the top. The Philly native remains focused on the next step and continues to make a name for himself by staying quiet and just living by the fact that there is more to the fight world than just the eight sides of the Octagon.
Watch UFC 328 – Chimaev vs. Strickland on 10 May 2026 from 6:30 AM IST Live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD (Tamil, Telugu and Kannada).
– The end
Published on:
08 May 2026 18:30 IST
