When the UFC Vegas 97 main card (starting ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET) closed out, it was a pure skill-to-skill test. One BJJ Black belt facing another remains an interesting bout. In this instance, BJJ savant Sean Brady got the signature win over his counterpart Gilbert Burns. The high-stakes 170-pound headliner took shape at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Brady (now 17-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) delivered in his first headlining bout with a unanimous nod over one-time UFC title challenger Burns. Holding a lineage all the way from Carlos and Carlson Gracie, Gilbert Burns is a true savant of the sport. Hence, this was a pure passing of the baton from one BJJ titan and black belt to another.
Brady started with hard leg kicks and teeing off small shots. But ‘Durinho’ closed the gap early, spearing in with a takedown. However, the American fighter proved superior inside the clinch. Brady was indomitable and got back up at each lapse, even pushing Burns to the cage instead. Burns did stun him in rounds 2 and midway through 3. However, the 31-year-old answered well.
Passing of the baton ! Burns was a warrior tho!
— Neo-Crux (@SageJey) September 8, 2024
He kept the pressure on with his dirty boxing and on-attack press against the cage. Although the fight was competitive, the American star did enough to earn almost every frame in the book. Sean Brady and his reversals were a work of art that prevented Burns from going for any submissions.
The veteran Brazilian fighter ended on a positive, going berserk with all kinds of submissions. However, Brady defeated Gilbert Burns via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 50-45) in the end. Burns getting out grappled by the grappler in Sean Brady has gone quite viral.
Gilbert Burns was on the brink of one last title run at the UFC Vegas 97 feature headliner. 38 now, he wanted to make one last title run and even had aspirations to challenge the champion again. However, tough on etiquette and grind and infamous for his rigor, Sean Brady got the job done.
Fans react to the UFC Vegas 97 main event (Source: UFC News (@UFCNews) / X)Brady was looking to test the ground game of the BJJ savant on the flight, and he did. The American fighter respects Burns, who is arguably the most experienced fighter he’s ever faced alongside Belal Muhammad. The duo went at it with class grappling and peripheral pressuring. However, Brady came out on top and went viral for it too.
Gilbert Burns is old, man. Still can compete, obviously, but he’s so slow in there and Burns has never been slow at WW.
— Jed Meshew II (@JedKMeshew) September 8, 2024
10-9 Brady after Round 1
I think that the key will be whether he can maintain this pace if the fight goes into the championship rounds.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) September 8, 2024
The grappling of these guys is too good. I think it will come down to striking exchanges and cardio. Who can get who down in the later rounds #UFCVegas97
— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) September 8, 2024
That’s not fair din is the broadcast coach and the coach coach
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 8, 2024
Brady looked great over 25 mins. Good pace & cardio against a grizzled vet in Burns.
— Kyle Anthony’s UFC Betting (@KyleAnthonyUFC) September 8, 2024
While some have said that Burns is surely past his prime, most have lauded their fighting aura. Consequently, a prime reaction (@SageJey) even noted, “Passing of the baton! Burns was a warrior tho!” This was a pure and entertaining change of guard, from the veteran grappler to the new fame.
Burns is now 0-3 in his last few, including Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. On the other hand, Sean Brady is on back-to-back wins after defeating Kelvin Gastelum. He also has a history with the champ before that; this win is sure to propel him up in the talks even more.
