Sean Brady takes on Leon Edwards as the UFC returns to London on Saturday and the American insists a partisan crowd won’t bother him at The O2 Arena
Eagles fan Sean Brady expects to be celebrating in South London on Saturday night – but he is out to follow Super Bowl success rather than Crystal Palace ’s revival.
The Philadelphia native will headline UFC London at the O2 Arena in Greenwich alongside Birmingham’s Leon Edwards, the former welterweight champion.
With both men vying for a shot at Belal Muhammad’s title, there is plenty on the line, but Brady feels he can build on the momentum his hometown is enjoying after the Philadelphia Eagles triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs to claim the NFL’s top prize last month.
And with Philly fans well renowned for their less-than-welcoming approach to sporting rivals, Brady is hardened to anything UK fans can throw at him.
He said: “I’m from Philly. I’ve seen all the other teams come into our town and get booed and all that stuff, but then you get in there and it doesn’t matter.
“It’s just me and Leon in the cage – none of the fans in the UK can get in there and fight for him.
“Once you get in there, you don’t hear any of that noise but, yeah, I think it [the booing] is just going to make me fight even better.
“I’m going to win and I’m going to add it to Philly’s resume. The Eagles won the Super Bowl and now Sean Brady is going to win on Saturday night.
“I’m super proud to represent Philly. One of the best things for me, I never never left Philly to go to a big super gym. I’ve stayed and trained in Philly my entire career and I will do that the rest of my life.”
And Brady predicts he is going to make Edwards’ night tougher than a well done Philly cheese steak. When asked how he sees himself getting his hand raised, he added: “If you have a neck, I can choke you. Leon has a neck, so I’m going to try to choke him.”
However, Edwards sees his main event rival as more budgie than eagle, having met him for the first time during a face-off outside the O2 this week.
He said: “I didn’t know he was that small. He had his back turned to me and I thought, ‘Where is Sean?’ Then he turned around and I was like, ‘What the hell?’ He is probably 5’8”, 5’9”. The size difference will play a part in this fight.”