Who’s Stock Was Raised After UFC Fight Night 255?

Scintillating finishes and memorable moments were in short supply at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday. That being said, a handful of fighters certainly enhanced their reputations over the weekend.

Let’s take a look at which fighters saw their stock rise the most after UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady.

Sean Brady

After stepping in on just a few weeks’ notice to replace Jack Della Maddalena in Saturday’s main event, Sean Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) delivered an exceptional performance. He used his clear grappling advantage to dominate former champion Leon Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC), eventually submitting “Rocky” early in the fourth round to secure the biggest win of his career.

In a division filled with top contenders, the 32-year-old has surely now entered the title conversation at 170 pounds. With Belal Muhammad set to face Della Maddalena at UFC 315, Brady now joins the likes of Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry in the hunt for the next title challenger.

Shauna Bannon

In the face of adversity, Irish strawweight Shauna Bannon (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) delivered one of the evening’s highlights by submitting Puja Tomar (9-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in the second round of their clash on the prelims.

Down a round on the scorecards and rocked by a devastating headkick from Tomar, Bannon rallied, grabbing her opponent’s arm and forcing the tap.

For a single mother struggling to support her young son, winning $50,000 will mean the world to “Mama B.” The former kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion is still finding her footing inside the Octagon, and Saturday’s victory will go a long way toward helping her feel settled in the big leagues moving forward.

Caolan Loughran

Former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion Caolan Loughran (10-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) hasn’t had the easiest start to his UFC career, facing numerous challenges in the first 18 months.

After having the rug pulled out from under him twice with late-notice opponent changes, “The Don” entered fight week in desperate need of a victory. “I can’t go 1-3 in the UFC,” he told me when we spoke recently. “We all know what happens then.”

With his back against the wall, Loughran could have done without facing a former opponent in Nathan Fletcher (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC). The added distraction of a bubbling local rivalry between the pair’s respective gyms could have easily thrown the young Irishman off his game. However, he remained focused and composed inside the Octagon.

The fight was a closely contested affair, but the noticeable improvements in Loughran’s striking made the difference as he emerged with a split-decision win.

Alexia Thainara

Brazilian newcomer Alexia Thainara (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) had a UFC debut to remember on Saturday. After stepping in on short notice to replace Istela Nunes and face hometown favorite Molly McCann (14-8 MMA, 7-7 UFC), she seized the opportunity and left a lasting impression on everyone who watched the event.

By dominating and submitting “Meatball” (who later retired) in the middle of the main card, the former Dana White’s Contender Series contestant announced her arrival as an exciting addition to the strawweight division.

Lone’er Kavanagh

Another exciting prospect who had to battle through adversity at the O2 Arena, Lone’er Kavanagh (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) overcame a tough opponent in Felipe dos Santos (8-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC) on Saturday after being outstruck and cut open during the first round.

The former Cage Warriors prospect made the necessary adjustments going into round two and picked apart “Lipe Detona” for the remaining ten minutes, showcasing an exciting array of skills and an impressive ability to remain composed, even while wearing a crimson mask of his own blood.

In a division filled with exciting young talents, the young Londoner stands out as one of the most promising rising stars the flyweight division has seen in years.

Paul Browne

Paul Browne is a professional mixed martial arts commentator, feature writer and podcaster based in Dublin, Ireland.