Sean Brady is known for his strong wrestling game and it was on full display once again at UFC on ESPN 52 – but with a highlight-reel ending.
On Saturday’s main card at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, Brady (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) followed two rounds of blanketing Kelvin Gastelum (18-9 MMA, 12-9 UFC) with a nasty kimura submission. The tap came at 1:43 of Round 3.
Brady’s dominance in the opening 10 minutes was strong, but met with boos from the fans who wanted more action. Brady mounted Gastelum at times, but was unable to finish off the job. Damage was minimal.
In Round 3, though, Brady as he picked up his third UFC submission. Brady isolated the right shoulder, stepped over Gastelum, readjusted, and found the tap.
Sean Brady beats Kelvin Gastelum in his welterweight debut 😤 #UFCAustin pic.twitter.com/2Jek8rTw3Y
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 3, 2023
Brady, 31, bounced back from his first career loss, a TKO defeat vs. Belal Muhammad at UFC 280 in October 2022. Brady was booked twice after that, but both fights fell through.
Gastelum, 32, came up short in his return to welterweight. He made championship weight on the scale Friday and appeared in arguably the best physical shape of his career. Gastelum fell to 2-6 in his most recent eight outings.
The welterweight bout was part of the UFC on ESPN 52 main card at Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 52 results include:
- Sean Brady def. Kelvin Gastelum via submission (kimura) – Round 3, 1:43
- Joaquim Silva def. Clay Guida via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Dustin Stoltzfus def. Punahele Soriano via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:10
- Miesha Tate def. Julia Avila via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:15
- Cody Brundage def. Zach Reese via knockout (slam, punches) – Round 1, 1:49
- Drakkar Klose def. Joe Solecki via knockout (slam) – Round 1, 1:41
- Rodolfo Bellato def. Ihor Potieria via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:17
- Jared Gooden def. Wellington Turman via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:11
- Veronica Hardy def. Jamey-Lyn Horth via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.
