The San Antonio Brahmas had the No. 1 statistical defense in the United Football League this season. But it turned out, the Birmingham Stallions had a championship defense.

The Stallions defeated the Brahmas 25-0 in the inaugural UFL Championship Game on Sunday at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.

Birmingham added the new spring-football league’s crown to the championships won by the Stallions the past two seasons in the USFL, which merged with the XFL to form the United Football League this year.

The outcome avenged Birmingham’s only loss of the season. The Brahmas beat the Stallions 18-9 on May 25 in Week 9 of the regular season.

With the No. 1 offense in the league, Birmingham opened the title game with three punts and a fumble on its first four possessions. Then the Stallions scored the next three times they had the football.

For San Antonio, though, the offense produced six punts, lost two fumbles and got stopped on downs twice.

Birmingham’s breakout play was a 44-yard burst by running back Ricky Person Jr. to the San Antonio 30-yard line. The big play led to an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Adrian Martinez to wide receiver Gary Jennings with 40 seconds left in the first half. Birmingham took an 8-0 halftime lead on Martinez’s 2-point conversion pass to wide receiver Amari Rodgers.

Receiving the second-half kickoff, the Stallions moved 64 yards in eight plays for another touchdown. Martinez ran in from 11 yards with 11:00 left in the third quarter, then hit tight end Jordan Thomas with a 2-point conversion pass for a 16-0 lead.

San Antonio then made the fatal error of the game. Birmingham linebacker Kyahva Tezino caused Brahmas wide receiver Jontre Kirklin to fumble on a completion on the Brahmas’ first snap of the second half, and safety Kenny Robinson Jr. recovered at the San Antonio 24-yard line.

The Stallions cashed in with Martinez’s 1-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown – a play ruled short of the goal line on the field but turned into a TD via video review with 7:25 left in the third quarter.

A 49-yard field goal by Chris Blewitt with 11:31 left to play set the final score.

San Antonio ran for 127 yards on 33 carries in its regular-season victory over Birmingham. On Sunday, the Brahmas had 52 yards on 16 rushing attempts. Meanwhile, the Stallions ran for 210 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries against San Antonio on Sunday, with Person picking up 102 on 13 attempts.

Birmingham won even though Martinez finished with 98 passing yards, completing 13-of-23 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Martinez, who was the UFL Most Valuable Player in the regular season, also won the MVP Award for the championship game.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.