UFC Welterweight Champion, Leon Edwards has some enterprise to settle when he steps into the Octagon for an eagerly anticipated rematch towards Belal Muhammed on July 27, to headline UFC 304. MMA followers know that he’ll try to erase recollections of their earlier conflict in 2021, when Edwards unintentionally poked his opponent’s eye resulting in a no contest.
However for his man, who is understood to his associates as “Rocky,” being a champion can also be about illustration, and giving the whole lot to the coaching course of. M&F sat down with the 32-year-old, who stands 6-feet-tall, between grappling and boxing classes, to get his ideas simply days out from the largest bout of his profession.
You moved to Birmingham, England, with your loved ones as a teen, however you had been born in Kingston, Jamaica and have turn out to be the primary Jamaican born UFC champion. You have to really feel proud that you just get to characterize your homeland?
100%. To be born in Jamaica, not understanding what blended martial arts was, to emigrating to the UK and changing into the world champion, it’s a loopy story, so I’m very proud to characterize all of the folks in Jamaica.
Does this make you are feeling an additional accountability when it comes to the way you conduct your self as champion?
It’s good illustration, you already know? For both Jamaican’s or the UK. One thing for teenagers to look as much as, and be like; ‘okay, I may be myself and in addition obtain greatness.’ (It’s about folks pondering) ‘I don’t have to alter, or be a sure strategy to turn out to be champion.’ I feel it’s about being your self, and being humble, and you may obtain your desires.
Youth sports activities was essential to serving to you attain your potential as a person and helped to maintain you away from among the destructive influences which might be out on the streets (Edward’s brother was tragically shot in a London nightclub). How necessary is it for governments all around the globe to put money into youth sport sources?
I really feel prefer it’s essential. Even the YMCAs. After I was a child, there was a variety of YMCAs round, clearly, in impoverished areas, with music, soccer, and completely different sports activities, and after college you’ll be able to go there however they’re all closed down now, so I really feel prefer it’s positively necessary. Sports activities modified my life and it could assist to alter different child’s lives.
You’re recognized for figuring out very laborious within the health club and never simply contained in the cage. We’ve seen you crushing deadlifts and operating with the weighted sled. How impoartant is that this to your coaching?
Being within the health club simply helps, additionally with my psychological well being, even when I’m not in coaching camp for a battle, I’m at all times within the health club, coaching and studying and bettering. So, whether or not it’s for normal health, or your aim is to be a fighter, no matter you select to do, being within the health club positively helps.
In the event you get a session the place you’ll be able to select your personal workouts, what do you gravitate to?
I begin out with a little bit of cardio, then I’d usually do a whole-body exercise. I do chest, again, legs, multi functional. I discover simply doing weights, or simply doing chest alone is a bit boring, so I have to get my coronary heart price up, and sweat a little bit bit, and that’s after I really feel the perfect.
Those that have by no means tried MMA, in all probability can’t comprehend how a lot power is required to maneuver the cussed body weight of an opponent. How do you’re employed on that?
One of the best ways to get higher power and cardio for preventing is in really doing it, whether or not it’s preventing or wrestling, jiu-jitsu. You’ll be able to run all you need, and be match when operating, nevertheless it’s two completely different cardio techniques (in comparison with) wrestling.
What do you wish to eat and are there any dietary supplements which might be a staple?
Within the morning, after I get up, I’ll have breakfast; usually porridge oats with a scoop of Myprotein Influence Whey Protein in there. I’ll have that with bananas and almond butter. I attempt to eat each 3 hours, principally. I’m coaching twice, generally three time a day, and the physique is simply continually burning (energy), so that you gotta preserve fuelled to really feel energized in your classes. I like rooster. In camp, I usually eat much less purple meat and extra rooster and fish as a result of I’ve to maintain my weight down as effectively. Typically I’ll have a steak, however not usually while in coaching camp.
I’m very massive on vitamin D, and magnesium, zinc, so far as dietary supplements. I’ll combine my Myprotein shakes with Myprotein creatine, and I additionally wish to drink electrolytes.
You’re pulled in all types of various instructions with coaching and in addition media earlier than a giant battle. How do you spend your downtime in the event you get any?
I like to observe TV, and play video games. Simply chill, and attempt to take my mind away from interested by the battle, and let my physique relaxation earlier than the following session. Or have a nap. [laughs]
Do you have got any rituals on battle day?
The day of the battle, I wish to go for an extended stroll with everybody on my crew. It’s a from of meditation, clear your ideas, get all of your gameplan so as, ask the coaches some questions, and simply get some contemporary air as an alternative of simply sitting round.
Your title protection on July 27 on UFC 304 will happen in Manchester, England. Out of your perspective, what are among the positives about preventing in your house nation?
For me, it’s having my family and friends there. I’m preventing in Manchester, it’s solely an hour and a half’s drive away from my home, so it’s good and I’ve by no means misplaced a battle within the UK, and I like being at house. I like being round my family and friends. It provides me further motivation to go on the market and carry out.
You have to really feel like you have got unfinished enterprise with Belal Muhammad, what would you wish to say to your followers who will likely be watching?
Simply, thanks for the help, you already know? I’m going on the market to place all of it on the road. I really consider I’ll end him and I’m excited to go on the market to carry out for the UK and for Jamaica, and for everybody, simply displaying that I’m the perfect welterweight there’s, and I’ll proceed displaying that.
Watch UFC 304 stay at 10pm ET on July 27 (3 a.m. July 28 within the UK) by way of EPSN+ PPV and TNT Sports activities.
