Fighting is central to current UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards. From the violence-ridden streets of Kingston to the Octagon, the welterweight kingpin embraced combat. The culmination of all the hardships and dark teenage days came to the golden moment when he faced Kamaru Usman at UFC 287. While he fought his entire life, he almost gave up in his shot to glory. However, the implausible moment came towards the dying seconds of the last round, when he caught ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ lacking. Therefore, he extended his unbeaten run to 11 fights and left with UFC gold wrapped around his waist. Also, he completed the journey of growing up in a single-room house to one of the best fighters in the world.
Leon Edwards Nationality
The 31-year-old is a British national. He was born on 25 August 1991 in Kingston, Jamaica. In a conversation with ESPN, he revealed he had a tough upbringing as he grew up in a wooden shack with a zinc roof.
Subsequently, his father moved to Aston, Birmingham, when the BJJ ace was a mere kid of 5 or 6. Later on, he, his brother, and his mother joined his father in Aston.
Where does Leon Edwards Live?
Leon Edwards currently lives in another locality in Birmingham, Erdington. The family shifted base there after moving out of Aston. The forced but monumental change came after Team Renegade BJJ & MMA product lost his father when he was 14.
Determined to represent the UK, the welterweight fighter stuck to the place and continues to inspire the local communities in Erdington.
What did Leon Edwards’ parents do?
As disclosed by ‘Rocky’, his father was involved in questionable activities. While the territorial and poverty-stricken streets of Kingston suffered, he lived a satisfied life with meager resources.
Surrounded by crime, killing, shooting, hunger, and poverty, the Kingston native became indifferent to killing. A change in the landscape from Kingston to London also didn’t drastically change the life he was used to.
While his father bought them a house, he made appearances only on weekends. Further, his mother did a cleaning job to boost income for the house. The loss of his father also pushed him down a spiral as he joined a gang and indulged in crimes. Furthermore, he was also arrested for fighting and possessing a knife.
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The 20-3 record holder fought to protect his comrades and intimidate people because of beef. Thus, earned his famous nickname ‘Rocky’ from his school days. However, his determined mother spotted the Ultimate Training Center while they were walking down the streets of Erdington. To get her son off the streets, she enrolled him in the gym and the rest is history.
Why did UFC fighter Leon Edwards flee to England from Jamaica?
Leon Edwards followed his father to England to escape the grim reality of Jamaica. He once revealed, “As a kid growing up in Jamaica, all you see is crime, drugs, killing, shooting, poverty. Day in and day out.”
Despite the horrifying childhood, everyone in the neighborhood lived a similarly deprived life. Thus, the Brit was still happy with his life.
The enrollment at the MMA gym in Erdington helped him leave the vicious lifestyle behind. Edwards made his MMA debut in 2010 and afterward fought for Fight UK MMA and also BAMMA before transitioning to UFC in 2014.
About his upcoming fight at UFC 286
While his promotional debut against Claudio Silva didn’t yield a favorable result, he also suffered another setback against Kamaru Usman in his fourth fight in the promotion. The British fighter then racked up splendid wins against Rafael dos Anjos, and Nate Diaz, and also had his revenge against the Nigerian fighter in their rematch.
Notably, both fighters will square off against each other in London’s O2 Arena on March 18, 2023, at UFC 286 as they tussle for the welterweight crown.
What do you think of these details about the current welterweight champion, Leon Edwards? Let us know in the comments below.
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