Sean Brady dominates Gilbert Burns in UFC Vegas 97 main event

The UFC Apex in Las Vegas hosted Saturday’s UFC Vegas 97 fight card.  The event was headlined by a welterweight bout between sixth-ranked Gilbert Burns and eighth-ranked Sean Brady.

Burns entered the fight coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in his 12-year fight career. Brady rebounded from his first career loss in his last outing, defeating Kelvin Gastelum via submission last December. 

Burns took the center of the cage.  Brady landed first with a leg kick.  Brady pressed forward with a combination.  Brady dictated the pace early.  Burns changed levels and took Brady down but nearly as fast as he hit the ground he bounced back to his feet.  Brady drove forward behind punches and clinched midway through the opening round.  

They worked inside the clinch delivering knees to the body and short punches on the inside.  Brady tried to trip Burns but Burns remained standing and quickly separated.  Brady exploded with a flurry and clinched.  HE took Burns down but Burns quickly got back to his feet.  They remained in the clinch along the cage and that’s how the round ended.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Brady.  

Brady delivered a kick to the body to start the second round.  Burns responded with a left hand that connected.  Brady opted to tie him up.  The separated moments later.  Brady landed a left. hand.  Brady’s output was considerably higher than Burn’s.  Burns landed a combination and Brady clinched.  They separated and Burns began pressuring Brady.  Brady clinched and secured a takedown. Burns sprang back up and swept Brady.  Brady worked his way back to his feet and the two got back to fighting at distance.  Brady moved in the pocket with a right hand.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Brady.  

Burns came out in the third round moving forward.  He landed a couple of leg kicks.  Burns clinches and the worked for position against the cage.  Brady worked hard to get the fight to the ground.  Burns got free and both men missed with big punches.  Brady tied up Burns and the changed positions a few times.  Brady kept the pressure on and didn’t give Burns any space.  Burns connected with a hard elbow on the inside.  He clinched and unloaded knees up the middle.  Burns changed levels and took Brady down but Brady immediately got back to his feet.  Burns landed a clean right hand and Brady quickly took Burns down.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Burns.  

Burns inched forward in the fourth and Brady met him with a jab.  Brady accidentally landed a kick to the cup and Burns was given time to recover.  A minute later, the fight was restarted.  In the first exchange, Burns delivered a kick to the groin and Brady fell to the canvas.  He was given time to recover before the fight resumed.  Referee Herb Dean gave both fighters a warning.  

Brady delivered leg kicks as Burns looked to counter.  They exchanged right hands.  Burns stepped in the pocket with a stiff right hand.  Brady responded with a left but Burns again connected with a right hand counter.  Brady used a flurry to close the distance and put Burn’s back against the cage.  They briefly separated and Burns landed a right hand before Brady tied him up again.  Burns pushed his way free and Brady changed levels and took Burns down.  Burns returned to his feet but was put back on the canvas.  Burns scrambled free and slammed Brady to the canvas.  Brady immediately got back up.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Brady.

Burns likely needed a finish to win heading into the final round.  Brady began the round with a leg kick.  They traded jabs.  Burns landed a straight right hand.  Brady answered with a right hook.  Burns threw a knee to the body and his foot hit Brady’s cup as Brady moved forward.  Brady recovered and blitzed forward with a flurry with the fight restarted.  He continued to employ leg kicks.  Burns leaped in with a flying knee that landed.  Brady quickly clinched.  They separated and Burns missed with a huge right hand.  Brady took Burns down with two minutes remaining.  

On the round, Brady worked inside Burns’ guard.  Burns got to his feet but Brady kept the pressure on and put Burns back on the ground.  Burns got up and was thrown back to the canvas at the horn.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Brady. 

The judges scored the fight for Brady via unanimous decision.  The scorecards read 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46.