Leon edwards He is the current UFC welterweight champion. Photo: Reproduction/InstagramThe effusive reaction of Leon edwards à Colby Covington's provocation at the UFC 296 promotional press conference there's a reason. By ironically citing the champion's father, the challenger for the welterweight belt (up to 77,1kg) touched on a delicate subject and highlighted the family drama experienced by the Englishman almost 20 years ago. When he was 14 years old, the fighter's father was shot to death.
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To understand Edwards' fury, the team at SUPER FIGHTS explains the fatal incident that affected the family.
Leon Edwards' childhood
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Edwards lived with his mother and younger brother, also a wrestler. Fabian Edwards, which is a highlight of Bellator. Raised in a dangerous neighborhood, the athlete did not enjoy the conditions that, years later, would lead him to world MMA stardom.
“Deaths became normal for me as a child. Hearing gunshots was normal. They didn't scare me. When you're playing in the streets of Jamaica and you hear gunshots, you don't run or hide,” said the athlete, in an interview with 'ESPN', in 2019.
Drama with father
According to Leon's reports, despite financial difficulties, he and his brother, among the other children in the area, were the only ones to collect items such as bicycles and remote control cars. The athlete delegates the opportunity for 'luxury' to his father.
As he grew older, Edwards came to understand that his father was involved in illegal activities. This action led to a tragic episode in the fighter's family.
Tragedy in the family
At age 9, Leon and his family migrated to Aston, England. There, at 14, he was part of local gangs and, amidst the company, he learned that his father had been shot dead in a nightclub in London.
“When I was 14, my father was murdered. He was shot and killed in a London nightclub. He had something to do with money. I do not know exactly. It was terrible, but I knew it could happen,” he said in the same interview.
Psychological shock
According to the current UFC champion, his father's death did not keep him away from the gangs. On the contrary. The fighter admitted to having become even more involved in illegal activities.
"It was not easy. That messed with me. It took me even deeper into gangs and the world of crime. My adolescence was my dark period. (…) My class was involved in fights, robberies and stabbings. We sold drugs, smoked marijuana and drank a little. I was arrested a few times for fighting and carrying a knife,” she said.
Saved by mom
Concerned about her son's trajectory, Leon's mother and Fabian Edwards decided to introduce his children to the world of martial arts. At 17, the UFC star discovered the world of MMA and, according to the fighter himself, ended up safe.
“She (mother) did this to save her son from becoming even more involved in crime, from going to prison, from being killed, stabbed or spending his life in prison. (…) Thank God, this ended up becoming a career for me”, he concluded.
Arrival in the UFC and glory in MMA
In 2011, Edwards debuted as a professional in mixed martial arts. In his first match, the athlete beat Damian Zlotnicki by knockout in the first round.
Until his arrival in Ultimate, Leon had nine confrontations, winning on eight occasions. His first challenge in the UFC took place in 2014. On that occasion, the welterweight faced the Brazilian Claudius Hannibal, but ended up being overcome in the judges' decision.
Afterwards, the fighter managed to achieve two positive results, but lost again in 2015, when he faced Kamaru Usman for the first time. Balance and long-awaited redemption followed.
After the stumble against the 'Nigerian Nightmare', Edwards scored eight consecutive victories (between 2016 and 2019), passing names like Donald Cerrone, Rafael dos Anjos e Vincent Luque.
In 2021, after hitting Nate diaz, Leon gained the status of challenger and would face the then champion and former executioner, Kamaru Usman.
Against the Nigerian, Edwards shocked the world by staging one of the biggest comebacks in the organization's history. Dominated for most of the almost five rounds played, the fighter found a positive result with a surprising knockout, obliterating his opponent with a kick to the head in the final seconds of the fight.
As champion, the Englishman got an immediate rematch against Usman. In the trilogy, the new champion did not disappoint the fans and overcame the former executioner, overcoming his rival in the majority decision of the judges.
Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington
This Saturday (16), Edwards returns to the octagon for his second challenge as welterweight champion. The athlete will face the controversial Colby covington.
While the Englishman tries to expand his legacy, the North American seeks, for the third time, to wear the division's linear title.
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