Here’s a bold statement: Kamaru Usman’s push for a UFC title shot is raising more than a few eyebrows, and Sean Brady isn’t holding back his thoughts. But here’s where it gets controversial—Brady is calling out the entire narrative, labeling it as 'bullsh*t' and questioning how Usman even landed in the title conversation. Let’s break it down.
Usman, with a record of 21-4 in MMA (16-3 in the UFC), recently snapped a three-fight losing streak by defeating Joaquin Buckley in June. Despite this win, his path to a title shot seems puzzling, especially when you consider the impressive victories of top contenders like Michael Morales, Carlos Prates, and Ian Machado Garry. Yet, UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev appears to favor Usman as his next opponent. And this is the part most people miss—Brady, who suffered a knockout loss to Morales at UFC 322, isn’t buying it.
On his BradyBagz Show, Brady didn’t mince words. ‘There’s no way Ian gets it next,’ he said, referring to Machado Garry’s win over Belal Muhammad at UFC Fight Night 265. But his sharpest criticism was reserved for Usman. ‘The least deserving of it is Kamaru Usman. I don’t know how they’re angling this, trying to push him to the title. Mutual friendship, same manager. I understand what they’re trying to do, but that’s bullsh*t,’ Brady stated bluntly.
Brady’s take is clear: Morales, undefeated at 19-0 and fresh off a win over Brady himself, is the most deserving contender. ‘He beat me, I was the No. 1 contender,’ Brady admitted. He also sees Prates as a strong candidate, placing him second in line. As for Shavkat Rakhmonov? Brady believes he needs to re-enter the race before earning a title shot. ‘He’s just sitting on the sidelines,’ Brady noted.
When it comes to Usman’s chances against Makhachev, Brady is equally skeptical. ‘He lost three fights in a row, beat Buckley,’ Brady pointed out. ‘I think Islam is going to run through him. Morales is big, strong—he’ll give Islam the hardest time. I think Makhachev smokes Prates. He’ll just take him down. Let Usman go fight Shavkat.’
Here’s the controversial question: Is Usman’s title shot push a result of merit, or is it influenced by behind-the-scenes relationships? Brady’s stance is clear, but what do you think? Does Usman deserve the shot, or should the UFC prioritize contenders like Morales or Prates? Let’s spark a debate in the comments—agree or disagree, but let’s keep it respectful and thought-provoking.
