Sean Brady injured, replaced in UFC Vegas 124 main-event slot

yahoo sports mma |  

The UFC is in scramble mode. With UFC Vegas 124 just nine days away, the main event is now off. 

Top 10 welterweights Sean Brady and Gabriel Bonfim were set to headline the first fight card of November. As initially reported by Laerte Viana, Brady won’t make the walk after suffering an injury and being unable to fight.

MORE: UFC Vegas 123, Renato Moicano vs. Tom Nolan, main card predictions

Furthermore, Viana adds that the UFC is looking for a replacement opponent so that Bonfim can stay on the card and in the main-event slot. 

These Apex cards are usually top-heavy in name value, so Brady being out is a huge blow. Both fighters are on win streaks. The winner would’ve been primed to fight in the top five of the division. 

On Thursday afternoon, Brady revealed the injury keeping him out of competition. On the SteadyPicks YouTube channel, Brady explained what happened.

“Last week, Tuesday, I practiced in the morning; everything was going fine. By nighttime, I was going to do my next workout, I jumped on my bike, my knee was a little swollen afterwards. By 9:00 at night, I couldn’t walk.” 

“I’ve dealt with bursitis; I knew this wasn’t bursitis. I knew it was an infection.”

Brady went on to explain that it was a staff infection, and with his very limited mobility, fighting in just over a week wasn’t an option. 

It’s a gut punch for Brady, who has dealt with lingering injuries before, but now the UFC has to move forward. 

Heavyweight clash takes over as UFC Vegas 124 headliner

MMA: UFC 332
Oct 3, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Johnny Walker (red gloves) reacts after the fight against Mick Parkin (blue gloves) during UFC 332 at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

The initial report was that the UFC would try to find a replacement for Bonfim to face, but that doesn’t seem to be the plan anymore.

Reported by Laerte Viana, who broke the Brady injury news, a heavyweight clash will replace Brady-Bonfim as the main event for UFC Vegas 124. 

Waldo Cortes Acosta vs. Johnny Walker will headline UFC Vegas 124. Both heavyweights have been active this year, and it makes sense because neither fighter has to cut weight. 

Walker just scored a highlight-reel knockout at UFC 332, finishing Mick Parkin with a clean knee off the clinch. 

Cortes Acosta is looking to rebound from a loss against Curtis Blaydes at Noche UFC. 

This fight is guaranteed violence, and a knockout feels inevitable. The UFC did a masterful job finding a replacement without the fighters rushing any weight cuts.

With Bonfim all but guaranteed off the card, expect a rebooking with him and Brady soon, potentially as early as UFC 334 or UFC 335.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —