It’s going down at 170 pounds Saturday night, as Sean Brady meets Joaquin Buckley on the main card of UFC 328 in New Jersey.
Brady (18–2, 8–2 UFC) will attempt to rebound from a first-round knockout loss to Michael Morales in November, which snapped a three-fight surge. Buckley (21–7, 11–5 UFC) had rattled off six-straight wins before getting stifled by Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision last June.
Brady enters as a -175 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Buckley sits as a +145 underdog. The total is set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Brady vs. Buckley Preview
Sean Brady (#6)
Sean Brady’s losses are pretty easy to stomach. His first professional defeat came at the hands of eventual welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. Most recently, he got stopped by 19–0 prospect — and current top-three contender — Michael Morales. But in between, the 33-year-old veteran burnished his resume with statement wins over Kelvin Gastelum (SUB), Gilbert Burns (UD), and former champ Leon Edwards (SUB).
A jiu-jitsu black-belt from Philadelphia, Brady is known for his suffocating grappling and dangerous submission game. Six of his professional wins have come by tap-out. He’ll likely employ the same strategy Saturday night, with hopes of reclaiming his status as the No. 1 contender at 170 pounds.
Joaquin Buckley (#9)
Joaquin Buckley has looked completely rejuvenated since dropping to welterweight. The southpaw striker from St. Louis, 32, won six of his first seven bouts at 170 pounds — highlighted by a flattening of Stephen Thompson and a doctor’s stoppage TKO of Colby Covington.
“New Mansa” has scaled the rankings on the strength of his thunderous power, with 15 of his professional victories coming by knockout. However, his paltry 36% significant strike accuracy underscores a tendency to swing for the fences.
Buckley’s reckless style was on full display in his first welterweight loss against former champion Kamaru Usman, who ragdolled him across their five-round main event. That was nearly one year ago — and he hasn’t fought since.
Brady vs. Buckley Pick, Best Bet
Sean Brady owns a 3–0 career record against southpaws, and he’ll likely add to that total Saturday night against Joaquin Buckley. Even if the fight remains standing, the seasoned veteran should avoid Buckley’s oft-telegraphed haymakers. In the far-likelier scenario, Brady imposes his dominant grappling from the opening bell — following the blueprint set by Kamaru Usman — to notch a victory on the judges’ scorecards.
