Leon Edwards

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Leon Edwards (born 25 August 1991) is an English professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the former UFC welterweight champion.[5] A professional since 2011, Edwards formerly competed for BAMMA, where he was the BAMMA welterweight champion. As of 25 March 2025, he is #3 in the UFC welterweight rankings.[6]

Early life

Edwards was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and lived with his parents and his brother in a one-room house. Growing up, he was surrounded by crime, and his father was involved in what he describes as "questionable activities".[7] Edwards moved to the Aston area of Birmingham, England at nine years old.[7] In the early hours of 2 October 2004, when Edwards was 13 years old, his father, Rufus Edwards, was shot and killed in a nightclub in Croydon, London.[8] He was then involved in criminal activity such as drug dealing, street fighting, and knife possession along with others in his social circle, but was able to get out of his lifestyle at age 17, when his mother got him to join an MMA club.[7]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Edwards began his professional fighting career in 2010, making his debut as an amateur at Bushido Challenge 2 - A New Dawn. Edwards fought Carl Booth, winning via an armbar submission in round two.

Fight UK MMA

Edwards then signed a contract with Fight UK MMA. He debuted for the promotion against Damian Zlotnicki, winning via technical knockout in the first round. He had two more fights for the promotion, winning against Pawel Zwiefka and losing against Delroy McDowell via DQ by way of an illegal knee.

Post-Fight UK MMA

Edwards obtained a 2–1 record after leaving Fight UK MMA. He then fought Craig White at the Strength and Honor 14, winning by decision. Edwards then went to fight for "BAMMA", in which he went 5–0. During his stint with BAMMA, he won the welterweight championship against Wayne Murrie and he defended it once against Shaun Taylor in what was his last fight with BAMMA before going to the UFC.[9]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Edwards made his promotional debut against Cláudio Silva on 8 November 2014 at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Saint Preux.[10] He was defeated via split decision.[11]

Edwards faced veteran Seth Baczynski on 11 April 2015 at UFC Fight Night 64.[12] Edwards won the fight via KO at 0:08 of the first round.[13] This result earned him a Performance of the Night bonus[14] and marked one of the sixth fastest knockouts in the organization.[15]

Edwards faced Pawel Pawlak on 18 July 2015 at UFC Fight Night 72.[16] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[17]

Edwards next faced eventual UFC champion Kamaru Usman on 19 December 2015 at UFC on Fox 17.[18] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[19]

Edwards faced Dominic Waters on 8 May 2016 at UFC Fight Night 87.[20] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[21]

Edwards next faced Albert Tumenov on 8 October 2016 at UFC 204.[22] He won the fight via submission in the third round.[23]

Edwards faced Vicente Luque on 18 March 2017 at UFC Fight Night 107.[24] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[25]

Edwards faced Bryan Barberena on 2 September 2017 at UFC Fight Night 115.[26] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[27]

Edwards faced Peter Sobotta on 17 March 2018 at UFC Fight Night 127.[28] He won the fight via TKO at 4:59 in the third round.[29]

Edwards faced Donald Cerrone on 23 June 2018 at UFC Fight Night 132.[30] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[31]

Edwards faced Gunnar Nelson on 16 March 2019 at UFC Fight Night 147.[32] He won the bout by split decision.[33] After the event, Edwards was punched backstage by Jorge Masvidal, which left Edwards with a laceration under his left eye.[34]

Edwards faced former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos on 20 July 2019 in the main event of UFC on ESPN 4.[35] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[36]

As the first bout of his new, multi-fight contract, Edwards was scheduled to face Tyron Woodley on 21 March 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards.[37][38] However, the restrictions related to COVID-19 forced Edwards to withdraw as the event was meant to be moved from London to the United States, and the event was subsequently cancelled.[39]

After a 425-day hiatus since his bout with Dos Anjos, the UFC had removed Edwards from the UFC rankings due to inactivity on 22 October 2020.[40][41] However, one day later, it was announced that he had been scheduled to face undefeated prospect Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC Fight Night 183 on 19 December 2020.[42] This involved Edwards being back to the #3 spot in the UFC rankings.[43] On 29 November, it was announced that Chimaev had allegedly tested positive for COVID-19, which meant the bout was declared on jeopardy.[44][45] On 1 December, Edwards officially tested positive for COVID-19 and allegedly lost twelve pounds due to the severity of his case, so the bout was subsequently postponed.[46] On 22 December, it was announced that the contest has been rescheduled for 20 January 2021, at UFC Fight Night 185.[47][48] In turn, Chimaev pulled out of the contest on 29 December due to lingering effects of his own COVID-19 struggle.[49][50] As a result, the bout was temporarily cancelled.[51] On 13 January, the bout was scheduled for the third time, and was scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night 187 on 13 March 2021.[52] However, on 11 February, UFC president Dana White announced the fight was once again cancelled due to Chimaev suffering from lingering effects of COVID-19.[53] On 18 February, it was announced that Belal Muhammad would be the replacement opponent for Edwards.[54] During the beginning of the second round, Edwards accidentally poked Muhammad in the eye rendering him unable to continue. The fight was declared a no contest, snapping his 8-fight win streak.[55]

Edwards was expected to face Nate Diaz on 15 May 2021 at UFC 262, marking the first time a non-main event and non-title bout had been scheduled for 5 rounds in UFC history.[56] However, the bout was moved to UFC 263 due to a minor injury sustained by Diaz.[57] Edwards controlled a vast majority of the bout, but was stunned badly with punches late in the fifth. Edwards won the fight by unanimous decision (49–46, 49–46, 49–46).[58]

Edwards was scheduled to face Jorge Masvidal on 11 December 2021 at UFC 269.[59] However, Masvidal withdrew due to injury and the bout was scrapped.[60][61]

UFC Welterweight Champion

Edwards rematched Kamaru Usman on 20 August 2022 at UFC 278 for the UFC Welterweight Championship.[62] After having a successful first round and struggling for the next four, Edwards won the fight and title via knockout in the fifth round, claiming the UFC Welterweight Championship.[63] The win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[64] This victory is considered by many to be one of the best knockouts of all time, as well as one of the best comebacks to ever be pulled off in UFC history.[65]

A third fight between Edwards and Usman took place on 18 March 2023, at UFC 286.[66] With a point deduction in the third round due to grabbing the fence to prevent a takedown, he won the bout via majority decision. Aside from the fence grab, Edwards was commended for showing significant improvement from the second meeting with Usman, defending 11 of Usman's 15 takedown attempts and out-striking Usman on the feet for most of the fight.[67]

In the second defence of his title, Edwards faced Colby Covington on 16 December 2023 in the main event at UFC 296.[68] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[69]

In his third attempted title defence, Edwards faced Belal Muhammad again in a rematch on 27 July 2024 in the main event at UFC 304.[70] After being taken down throughout the bout, he lost the championship via unanimous decision, which was the first fight he lost in nine years.[71][72]

Post championship

Edwards was scheduled to face Jack Della Maddalena in the main event on 22 March 2025 at UFC Fight Night 255 in London, England.[73] However, Della Maddalena was pulled from the card to be rescheduled for another matchup, and was replaced by Sean Brady.[74] In his first loss via finish, Edwards lost the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the fourth round.[75]

Personal life

Leon grew up in Aston, Birmingham, England but is originally from Kingston, Jamaica. He started training mixed martial arts when he was 17. His nickname, Rocky, was given to him by his friends in school.[76] His brother, Fabian, is also a mixed martial artist for Bellator MMA.[77]

Championships and achievements

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 22–5 (1) Sean Brady Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady 22 March 2025 4 1:39 London, England
Loss 22–4 (1) Belal Muhammad Decision (unanimous) UFC 304 27 July 2024 5 5:00 Manchester, England Lost the UFC Welterweight Championship.
Win 22–3 (1) Colby Covington Decision (unanimous) UFC 296 16 December 2023 5 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Defended the UFC Welterweight Championship.
Win 21–3 (1) Kamaru Usman Decision (majority) UFC 286 18 March 2023 5 5:00 London, England Defended the UFC Welterweight Championship. Edwards was deducted one point in round 3 due to grabbing the fence.
Win 20–3 (1) Kamaru Usman KO (head kick) UFC 278 20 August 2022 5 4:04 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Won the UFC Welterweight Championship. Performance of the Night.
Win 19–3 (1) Nate Diaz Decision (unanimous) UFC 263 12 June 2021 5 5:00 Glendale, Arizona, United States
NC 18–3 (1) Belal Muhammad NC (accidental eye poke) UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad 13 March 2021 2 0:18 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Accidental eye poke rendered Muhammad unable to continue.
Win 18–3 Rafael dos Anjos Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Edwards 20 July 2019 5 5:00 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win 17–3 Gunnar Nelson Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal 16 March 2019 3 5:00 London, England
Win 16–3 Donald Cerrone Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards 23 June 2018 5 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 15–3 Peter Sobotta TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov 17 March 2018 3 4:59 London, England
Win 14–3 Bryan Barberena Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve 2 September 2017 3 5:00 Rotterdam, Netherlands
Win 13–3 Vicente Luque Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Manuwa vs. Anderson 18 March 2017 3 5:00 London, England
Win 12–3 Albert Tumenov Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 204 8 October 2016 3 3:01 Manchester, England
Win 11–3 Dominic Waters Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski 8 May 2016 3 5:00 Rotterdam, Netherlands
Loss 10–3 Kamaru Usman Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2 19 December 2015 3 5:00 Orlando, Florida, United States
Win 10–2 Paweł Pawlak Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites 18 July 2015 3 5:00 Glasgow, Scotland
Win 9–2 Seth Baczynski KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Gonzaga vs. Cro Cop 2 11 April 2015 1 0:08 Kraków, Poland Performance of the Night.
Loss 8–2 Cláudio Silva Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Saint Preux 8 November 2014 3 5:00 Uberlândia, Brazil
Win 8–1 Shaun Taylor KO (punch) BAMMA 16 13 September 2014 3 3:30 Manchester, England Defended the BAMMA British Welterweight Championship.
Win 7–1 Wayne Murrie Submission (rear-naked choke) BAMMA 15 5 May 2014 3 3:13 London, England Won the BAMMA British Welterweight Championship.
Win 6–1 Wendle Lewis KO (punches) BAMMA 14 14 December 2013 1 1:20 Birmingham, England
Win 5–1 Adam Boussif Submission (arm-triangle choke) BAMMA 13 13 September 2013 1 2:10 Birmingham, England
Win 4–1 Jonathan Bilton TKO (knees) BAMMA 11 1 December 2012 2 1:11 Birmingham, England
Win 3–1 Craig White Technical Decision Strength and Honour 14 3 November 2012 2 5:00 Exeter, England
Loss 2–1 Delroy McDowell DQ (illegal knee) Fight UK MMA 6 25 February 2012 3 2:40 Leicester, England Return to Welterweight.
Win 2–0 Pawel Zwiefka Decision (unanimous) Fight UK MMA 5 19 November 2011 3 5:00 Leicester, England Middleweight debut.
Win 1–0 Damian Zlotnicki TKO (punches) Fight UK MMA 4 5 June 2011 1 2:15 Leicester, England Welterweight debut.

Pay-per-view bouts

No. Event Fight Date Venue City PPV buys
1. UFC 278 Usman vs. Edwards 2 20 August 2022 Vivint Arena Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Not Disclosed[96]
2. UFC 286 Edwards vs. Usman 3 18 March 2023 The O2 Arena London, England, United Kingdom Not Disclosed[97]
3. UFC 296 Edwards vs. Covington 16 December 2023 T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Not Disclosed[98]
4. UFC 304 Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 27 July 2024 Co-op Live Manchester, England, United Kingdom Not Disclosed[99]

See also

References

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External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by 13th UFC Welterweight Champion
20 August 2022 – 27 July 2024		 Succeeded by
Belal Muhammad

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