UFC Vegas 97: Brady defeats Burns by unanimous decision

Natalia Silva, Steve Garcia, Cody Durden, and Yanal Ashmouz also secure victories at the MMA event

On Saturday night at the Apex in Las Vegas, Sean Brady and Natalia Silva made significant impacts in their respective bouts.

Brady defeated Gilbert Burns, handing him his third consecutive loss and taking his No. 6 ranking.

Brady showcased a well-rounded performance, outstriking Burns 130-47 and securing seven takedowns, making the 38-year-old Burns look his age.

While Burns hasn't announced his retirement, his position in the UFC welterweight rankings is slipping. Brady called out Ian Machado Garry for a future fight, which would be a compelling matchup for both.

Brady is expected to be ranked No. 6 in the next UFC rankings, possibly just above Garry. He hopes to fight again before the end of the year.

Silva, meanwhile, remained undefeated in the UFC after a decisive victory over Jessica Andrade. Although the fight earned them both Fight of the Night bonuses, Silva’s superior athleticism and striking, especially her effective kicking, were evident.

Post-fight, Silva expressed her readiness for a title shot, though she acknowledged that Alexa Grasso will defend her title against Valentina Shevchenko on September 14.

Here's a summary of the results from the card on September 7, highlighting the finishes:

• Sean Brady defeated Gilbert Burns by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46).

• Natalia Silva defeated Jessica Andrade by unanimous decision (30-27x3).

• Steve Garcia won against Kyle Nelson via TKO at 3:59 of Round 1, extending his streak of KO victories to six.

• Cody Durden secured a win over Matt Schnell with an Anaconda Choke at 0:29 of Round 2, earning a Performance of the Night bonus. Schnell seemed to signal retirement by leaving his gloves in the Octagon.

• Yanal Ashmouz defeated Trevor Peek by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

UFC Vegas 97 Preliminary Card Results:

• Chris Padilla defeated Rongzhu by TKO at 4:14 of Round 2 due to a doctor stoppage from an eye injury.

• Isaac Dulgarian won against Brendon Marotte via submission at 4:19 of Round 2 with an Arm Triangle.

• Andre Lima defeated Felipe dos Santos by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

• Gabriel Santos won against Yizha by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27).

• Jaqueline Amorim secured a victory over Vanessa Demopoulos with a submission (Armbar) at 3:28 of Round 1, though her win may face scrutiny for a potential glove grab.

• Andre Petroski defeated Dylan Budka by unanimous decision (30-27x3).

• Nathan Fletcher won against Zygimantas Ramaska with a submission (Arm Triangle) at 1:14 of Round 2, showcasing his ground game.