• Submit A Story
  • Contact
Friday, July 4, 2025
  • Home
  • MMA
    • MMA News
      • UFC
      • Bellator
      • PFL
      • ONE Championship
      • Oktagon
      • Cage Warriors
      • World MMA News
      • Regional Promotions
      • UK MMA News
    • MMA – Interviews
  • Boxing
    • Boxing News
      • UK Boxing News
      • World Boxing News
    • Boxing – Interviews
  • Podcasts
  • About Us
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Information
No Result
View All Result
Combat Sports UK
  • Home
  • MMA
    • MMA News
      • UFC
      • Bellator
      • PFL
      • ONE Championship
      • Oktagon
      • Cage Warriors
      • World MMA News
      • Regional Promotions
      • UK MMA News
    • MMA – Interviews
  • Boxing
    • Boxing News
      • UK Boxing News
      • World Boxing News
    • Boxing – Interviews
  • Podcasts
  • About Us
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Information
No Result
View All Result
Combat Sports UK
No Result
View All Result
Home MMA MMA News World MMA News

The Rocky Story of Leon Edwards: A Fighter’s Triumph Over Dark Upbringing & Becoming UFC World Champion

Combat Sports UK by Combat Sports UK
20 March 2023
in World MMA News
0 0
0
The Rocky Story of Leon Edwards: A Fighter’s Triumph Over Dark Upbringing & Becoming UFC World Champion
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppStart a discussion on Reddit

Tonight the bright lights of London’s iconic O2 Arena will shine on Leon Edwards as he defends his UFC welterweight Championship in the biggest fight of his career against longtime rival Kamaru Usman. Repeat or revenge is the question on everyone’s mind. Will ‘the Nigerian nightmare’ put a quick end to Leon’s championship dream & reclaim his place on the throne he dominated for so long? Or will ‘Rocky’ cement his position as king of the division & prove that the headkick that shook the world in August last year was no lucky shot?

Leon Edwards has everyone’s attention now.

However, at one time, this would’ve seemed an impossibility. The Jamaican-Brit’s road to this moment has been anything but easy.

“Champion of the world, look at me now. I was born in Jamaica with nothing. I lived in a wooden shed with a zinc roof. Look at me now!”

Leon Edwards emotional post-fight interview after knocking out Kamaru Usman to claim the UFC welterweight title at UFC 278

Leon Edwards: Early Years

Leon was born on August 25th, 1991, in Kingston, Jamaica. He spent the first nine years of his life there, where he was exposed to hunger, poverty, and crime that surrounded him.

“As a kid growing up in Jamaica, all you see is crime, drugs, killing, shooting, poverty. Day in and day out. I’ve never seen someone get shot in front of my face, but I’ve seen people who were hit with bullets running to get away.

“Killing became normal to me as a kid. Hearing gunshots was normal; it did not faze me. When you’re playing outside in Jamaica and you hear gunshots, you don’t run and hide.

“You just look, and if it’s nowhere near you, you carry on with your day. That was it. It is a part of life. We didn’t know any better.” Leon told ESPN in 2019.

Leon lived with his, father, mother & brother, all in one single room. One single room in a wooden shed, with a zinc roof.

Leon Edwards and his brother Fabian

After separating from Leon’s mother and leaving for London, Leon & his family were called over to England by his dad. Leon, his mother, and his brother settled in a neighborhood called Aston in Birmingham. But, despite moving in search of a better life, violence continued to be a major part of his upbringing.

Father’s Death & Personal Struggles With Crime

“When I was 14, my father was murdered. He was shot and killed at a nightclub in London.

“It was probably like 2 am,” he recalled. “I was in my room. Mum was in her room. We hear the phone ringing. I heard her crying, and I knew from then something bad, you know.

“Eventually, she came into my room and just told me this, your dad’s just got killed in London. It was something to do with money. I don’t know what exactly. It was some mad s***, but I knew that it could happen.”

Leon found himself in a situation where he saw few options other than conforming to the way of life that surrounded him. With the trauma of his father’s death added, it’s clear to see how Leon was sleepwalking into his father’s footsteps.

“But that didn’t make it any easier. It f***ed me up. It pushed me more into gang life and crime, toward the negative. My mid-teens were my darkest years” Leon added.

“I was arrested a few times, for fights and having a knife. My mum had to come to the police station many times to get me out,” Leon told the BBC.

“I knew what I was doing was breaking her heart, but I just kept doing it because your friends are doing it and as a teenager, you’re just involved.”

“It was mostly fighting. I fought to defend friends, I fought to intimidate, and I fought because of beefs. I fought all the time. That’s why my nickname is ‘Rocky.’ I got that from school. That’s before I got into MMA. I got it just from scrapping in the streets.”

His Mother’s Influence On His MMA Journey

At the age of 17, whilst waiting for a bus together, Edwards’ mum spotted an MMA gym, ‘Ultimate Training Centre’.

“She was the one that got me into MMA, even though she didn’t do it for a career path,” Edwards told BT Sport.

“She did it to basically save her son from getting involved deeper into going to prison, or dead, or stabbed, or I could have been doing, like I said, life in prison.

“You know, so she did it from that part of her heart, but by God’s grace it turned out to be a career for me.”

By God’s grace it certainly did. Leon’s mum worked multiple jobs to scrape together training fees as he became obsessed with the sport.

His coaches quickly spotted that he was a natural talent & it wasn’t long before he was fighting & coaching to pay his membership. Edwards’ frequent presence at the gym was a magnet for his friends. This kept them away from trouble and led to his brother, Fabian, following in his footsteps.

Leon Edwards and his mother, outside the mural painted by ‘Nozzle and Brush’ in Erdington in Birmingham following his UFC 278 KO of Kamaru Usman
The Journey to UFC 286

After winning his first six professional fights, Leon was signed by the UFC in 2014. He continued to climb the ranks with his pinpoint striking and impressively well-rounded game. He no doubt built an impressive record only losing twice in 15 UFC bouts, one being a loss to Kamaru Usman in 2015, but it also can’t be denied that much like his upbringing, setbacks have never been far from him. The pandemic delayed big opportunities for him, including the opportunity to headline the O2 back in 2020. As well as this, a string of opponent pullouts led Leon to become notorious for his bad luck.

Regardless, Leon’s vision never wavered and he was always outspoken in his belief that he’d be welterweight champion one day.

Having produced one of the greatest ever knockouts, upsets, and comebacks all in one fight against Usman at UFC 278, he now sits where rightfully belongs, at the pinnacle of the sport that saved his life.

“Bang! Headshot dead!” and the rest is history…

Giving Back To His Family and Community

Edwards’ success has allowed him to spoil his family, including flying his 80-year-old grandmother to the UK for the first time in her life. He is grateful for the sacrifices his family made to support him, and he is determined to give back. In addition, he fulfilled his mother’s dream of opening her own restaurant, called Sweet’s Kitchen, serving traditional Caribbean food.

Leon Edwards, his sister, mother and grandmother

“I gave her a car before, but this time she wanted like a restaurant. She’s a very good cook, she loves cooking.

“I kept saying I can get someone to work in there for you, but she said no, I want to work there, and I want to cook there – she wants to do it!” – Leon Told Sky Sports

He’s also a vocal advocate against knife crime. By partnering with Onside Legacy Youth Zone, a program that offers mentorship to young people in London, Birmingham, and Liverpool, he’s a crucial role model to prevent kids from going down similar paths to that he was on.

Leon Edwards: An Inspiration For Aspiring Fighters and Dreamers Alike

Leon Edwards lives up to his nickname in more ways than one, his journey to the top of the UFC is beyond a real-life rocky story. Despite growing up in a world that revolved around unimaginable trauma, he managed to rise above his circumstances with the help of his mother’s unwavering support and a chance encounter with MMA. Fast forward to today, all eyes are on Leon as he will headline one of the most iconic arenas in the UK. The UK, Jamaica & the world will be watching. The pressure is on but he thrives under pressure. And most importantly, whatever the outcome of UFC 286, there is no doubt that Leon Edwards’ mother will be proud of the champion that she helped to shape.

Holy shit what a promo. LOOK AT ME NOW. https://t.co/QcL6wgFsP7

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) March 14, 2023

What do you think of Leon’s story? Will Leon Edwards defeat Kamaru Usman to retain the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 286? Let us know your predictions in the comments below!

Tags: Kamaru UsmanLeon EdwardsO2 ArenaUFC 278UFC 286
Combat Sports UK

Combat Sports UK

Next Post
Dana White on Kamaru Usman’s Performance at UFC 286: “I Expected a Lot More Wrestling”

Dana White on Kamaru Usman’s Performance at UFC 286: “I Expected a Lot More Wrestling”

Connect with us

  • 2k Followers
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Dustin Poirier being interviewed

Dustin Poirier On Joe Rogan Commentary: “I Can’t Believe He Said That”

13 March 2024
Conor McGregor

Fans Express Concern After Alarming Conor McGregor Interview Surfaces (VIDEO)

22 March 2024
Andrew Tate

UFC Hall of Famer Threatens to Knock the S*** Out of Andrew Tate, Tate Responds

26 July 2023
Jake Paul

Jake Paul Announces Next Fight, Another Former UFC Fighter?

17 October 2023
Badmofo 5

Badmofo MMA 5 Live Results and Highlights

3
Daniel Cormier

Daniel Cormier Makes First WWE Appearance Ahead of Extreme Rules This Weekend (Video)

2
UFC Vegas 64: Marina Rodriguez vs. Amanda Lemos Live Results and Highlights

UFC Vegas 64: Marina Rodriguez vs. Amanda Lemos Live Results and Highlights

2
“I Love you All” Brandon Vera Calls Time On Legendary Career

“I Love you All” Brandon Vera Calls Time On Legendary Career

2
Paddy Pimblett Denies Intense Rumours of UFC 319 Return

Paddy Pimblett Denies Intense Rumours of UFC 319 Return

2 July 2025
Tyson Fury reveals the one fight to bring him out of retirement

Tyson Fury reveals the one fight to bring him out of retirement

2 July 2025
Tyson Fury gives strong verdict on Anthony Joshua fight

Tyson Fury gives strong verdict on Anthony Joshua fight

2 July 2025
“It Means Everything To Me” Jack Catterall Needs A Massive Win Saturday Night

“It Means Everything To Me” Jack Catterall Needs A Massive Win Saturday Night

1 July 2025

Recommended

Paddy Pimblett Denies Intense Rumours of UFC 319 Return

Paddy Pimblett Denies Intense Rumours of UFC 319 Return

2 July 2025
Tyson Fury reveals the one fight to bring him out of retirement

Tyson Fury reveals the one fight to bring him out of retirement

2 July 2025
Tyson Fury gives strong verdict on Anthony Joshua fight

Tyson Fury gives strong verdict on Anthony Joshua fight

2 July 2025
“It Means Everything To Me” Jack Catterall Needs A Massive Win Saturday Night

“It Means Everything To Me” Jack Catterall Needs A Massive Win Saturday Night

1 July 2025
Combat Sports UK

© 2022 Combat Sports UK.

Navigate Site

  • Submit A Story
  • Contact

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • MMA
    • MMA News
      • UFC
      • Bellator
      • PFL
      • ONE Championship
      • Oktagon
      • Cage Warriors
      • World MMA News
      • Regional Promotions
      • UK MMA News
    • MMA – Interviews
  • Boxing
    • Boxing News
      • UK Boxing News
      • World Boxing News
    • Boxing – Interviews
  • Podcasts
  • About Us
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Information

© 2022 Combat Sports UK.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.