When the matchup was first announced, it left fans scratching their heads. Brady is coming off a dominant main event win over former champion Leon Edwards (watch highlights), a performance that cemented him as the No. 1 contender. Morales, meanwhile, is relatively unknown outside hardcore circles, with his best victory coming against a past-his-prime Gilbert Burns.
When fellow Welterweight Ian Garry reportedly turned down a main event bout with Brady for UFC Vancouver, the Philly bruiser was left without an opponent — and he wasn’t interested in waiting until 2026 to fight again.
Instead, Brady opted to stay active against Morales, choosing risk over rest while other Welterweights campaign for title shots from the sidelines.
At UFC 322 media day, Brady voiced his frustration with that trend — especially after Kamaru Usman claimed this week that he deserves the next title shot despite being just 1-3 in his last four fights and only recently beating Joaquin Buckley. Even Islam Makhachev, who headlines UFC 322 for the Welterweight strap, agreed Usman should get the next crack if he wins.
“I think if you look at it, Kamaru is a former champion and had one of the longest win streaks at Welterweight as champion. Of course, everyone wants his name on their resume,” Brady said. “Plus, it’s a favorable matchup for Islam so of course, he’s going to throw it out there.”
“Usman is definitely in the talks, but I think he needs to win one more before you consider him for a title shot. So yeah, it’s a little crazy. Everyone wants a title shot, but no one wants to fight for it,” Brady concluded.
For more UFC 322: “Jack Della vs. Islam Makhachev” event-related news, video highlights and more click here.
