Saved from delinquency by MMA as a teenager, Leon Edwards followed this path until fulfilling his dream: to become UFC welterweight champion last August against Kamaru Usman. Before finding the Nigerian for a revenge this Saturday evening in London in the main fight of UFC 286 (live from 8:30 p.m. on RMC Sport 2), shock for which he does not advance as a favorite, portrait of the Briton who has yet to prove that he deserves his place at the table of the greatest.
A blow that changes a destiny and a few words for eternity. Leon Edwards shocked the MMA planet last August by taking the UFC welterweight crown from Kamaru Usman. Dominated for three and a half rounds after a first round where he had endangered the champion on the ground, the Briton signed the feat of a lifetime by extinguishing the Nigerian with a kick to the head forever etched in the list of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
Just over eleven years after his professional debut, nearly eight years after joining the juggernaut MMA organization, ‘Rocky’ took down the man then ranked number 1 in all categories to become the second undisputed Briton champion at the UFC – after Michael Bisping at the middleweight – before swinging a speech at the microphone to make you shiver between two sobs: “Everyone doubted me and thought I couldn’t do it! You all said I couldn’t do it! not do it! Look at me now!” And to conclude on an already legendary formula: “Pound-for-pound! Headshot! Dead!”
Seven months later, Edwards is back in business. For an ultra-awaited revenge against Usman, but this time at home, in England, in the main poster of UFC 286 where the champion will have the advantage of an audience won over to his cause this Saturday evening in London. This does not prevent most specialists from imagining the former king resuming his throne. Reassembled, the Nigerian promises to show “who is the best fighter”. After proving he can do it, the Brit needs to prove he can do it again. Like a reminder of a journey where nothing was offered to him and where he was able to show patience to seize his chance when necessary.
Drug deals, street fights, knife possession…
Leon Edwards was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in one of the city’s hottest ghettos. Raised by his parents with his little brother in a one-room wooden house, the environment of his neighborhood breathes crime and shootings. He will say that his father was involved in “questionable activities”. At nine, his family offered him a new start by emigrating to Birmingham. His first steps in England were complicated. Mocked for his heavy accent, the future UFC fighter does the punch to defend himself. At thirteen, his father was killed in a London nightclub. An event that makes him switch for good to delinquency.
Drug deal, street brawls, knife possession: Edwards is going down a very wrong path. But mom is there to watch. To get him out of this impasse, she directs him to the local MMA club. Leon falls “in love”. He just found his way. Two years later, at nineteen, he took his first steps as a professional. Nine fights in English organizations, including BAMMA where he took the welterweight belt, for an 8-1 record with the only loss being a disqualification. The UFC opened its doors to him and Edwards made his debut in the big MMA organization in November 2014, at the age of twenty-three, for a split decision loss to Claudio Silva.
He will only know defeat once: it will be against… Kamaru Usman in December 2015, a loss by unanimous decision for the first dance of their trilogy which will conclude on Saturday evening. Behind, the boy begins a series that has still not ended. Ten unbeaten fights, nine wins and one no contest (for accidental finger in the eye). The eighth success on the list, against former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in July 2019, seems to promise him a title shot against Usman.
But between the pandemic, fighters who pass him by (Jorge Masvidal, Gilbert Burns), a clash against new star Khamzat Chimaev canceled three times, the no contest against Belal Muhammad who does not play in his favor, a victory against Nate Diaz ended on a bad note with a very difficult last minute after having dominated the previous twenty-four then a Masvidal who withdraws for a clash planned between the two, he had to be patient. In this period, he will spend 602 then 434 days away from the cage, the UFC even ending up removing him from the rankings for inactivity. But Edwards has come too far to drop the case. “I continue to do what I have to do, he philosophizes then. To beat all these guys and chain the victories.”
He will end up getting what he wanted. UFC executive boss Dana White is taking advantage of the organization’s return to London in March 2022 to formalize his world chance for the following summer. The rest is history with this legendary kick. Some have spoken of a stroke of luck. Oh no. “I was preparing it, he smiles at the microphone of RMC Sport. I knew that when I was going to throw this kick, he was going to touch. It is a movement which has trapped my training partners more than once. When I saw he reacted well, I thought it was time to send him. And I did.”
Belt on the shoulder, Grail reached, the Briton can call his mother in video and burst into tears. She wanted to get him off the street. At the end of the adventure, he realized his “dream”: “To become world champion”. “It was an incredible moment, he says. When you set a goal and you achieve it, for anyone and in any situation, it’s a great moment. And the way which I did, by knocking out the so-called number 1 in all categories, it was fantastic. It’s difficult to describe in words what it means to me, to my team, to my family. . It’s so important to us.”
The goal is reached. But the end of the road is not yet in sight. “It was just the beginning. There are still a lot of things I want to achieve in this discipline. And it starts on Saturday evening.” In combat sports, it is said that a champion is not really a champion until he has defended his belt (hello, Conor McGregor…). Edwards will be able to do it in front of his people, with a whole people behind him. What to put the pressure on? “This is my sixth main event fight of a UFC event. I’ve been here a long time and a long time I’ve been in these big fights. There was probably more pressure on the last fight than on that one because I wanted to prove that I was the best in the world. This time I’m just cementing that status. I haven’t fought at home in four years so I’m excited to be able to do it. When I win, I’ll celebrate with my team and my country. It’s going to be great.”
Edwards says “when” not “if”. Taking down Usman to claim the crown seems to have given him a new dose of confidence that can prove formidable in the cage. And it doesn’t matter if he’s still not the favourite… “I’ve been in both positions and it doesn’t matter, the result is the same, I win every time,” he says with a big smile. And to conclude in a promise: “It will be different from our first two fights. I have a lot more things to show. (…) I would still like to finish it before the limit. It will be difficult to do better than this kick to the head so let’s get a nice submission.” Kamaru Usman’s latest loss is named after Leon Edwards. Leon Edwards’ latest loss is named after Kamaru Usman. Whatever happens in London, these two sentences will not change. But if he wins again, the Briton will have earned his place at the table of the very big ones for good.