Leon Edwards Plans to Settle All Unfinished Enterprise at UFC 304

UFC Welterweight Champion, Leon Edwards has some enterprise to settle when he steps into the Octagon for an eagerly anticipated rematch in opposition to 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 by chance poked his opponent’s eye resulting in a no contest.

However for his man, who is understood to his buddies as “Rocky,” being a champion can be about illustration, and giving all the things to the coaching course of. M&F sat down with the 32-year-old, who stands 6-feet-tall, between grappling and boxing periods, to get his ideas simply days out from the most important 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 into the primary Jamaican born UFC champion. You will need to really feel proud that you just get to signify your homeland?

100%. To be born in Jamaica, not figuring out 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 signify all of the folks in Jamaica.

Does this make you are feeling an additional duty when it comes to the way you conduct your self as champion?

It’s good illustration, ? For both Jamaican’s or the UK. One thing for youths to look as much as, and be like; ‘okay, I will be myself and likewise obtain greatness.’ (It’s about folks pondering) ‘I don’t have to vary, or be a sure solution to turn into champion.’ I believe it’s about being your self, and being humble, and you’ll obtain your goals.

Youth sports activities was crucial to serving to you attain your potential as a person and helped to maintain you away from a number of the detrimental 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 all over the world to spend money on youth sport assets?

I really feel prefer it’s crucial. Even the YMCAs. After I was a child, there was numerous 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 undoubtedly necessary. Sports activities modified my life and it could actually assist to vary different child’s lives.

You might be identified for figuring out very exhausting within the gymnasium 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 gymnasium simply helps, additionally with my psychological well being, even when I’m not in coaching camp for a struggle, I’m all the time within the gymnasium, coaching and studying and bettering. So, whether or not it’s for basic health, or your objective is to be a fighter, no matter you select to do, being within the gymnasium undoubtedly helps.

In the event you get a session the place you’ll be able to select your individual workout routines, 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 function. I discover simply doing weights, or simply doing chest alone is a bit boring, so I have to get my coronary heart charge up, and sweat a little bit bit, and that’s once I really feel the most effective.

Those that have by no means tried MMA, most likely 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?

The easiest way to get higher power and cardio for combating is in truly doing it, whether or not it’s combating or wrestling, jiu-jitsu. You’ll be able to run all you need, and be match when operating, however it’s two completely different cardio methods (in comparison with) wrestling.

What do you prefer to eat and are there any dietary supplements which might be a staple?

Within the morning, once I get up, I’ll have breakfast; usually porridge oats with a scoop of Myprotein Impression 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 always burning (energy), so that you gotta hold fuelled to really feel energized in your periods. I like hen. In camp, I usually eat much less pink meat and extra hen and fish as a result of I’ve to maintain my weight down as effectively. Generally 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 prefer to drink electrolytes.

You might be pulled in every kind of various instructions with coaching and likewise media earlier than a giant struggle. How do you spend your downtime when you get any?

I like to observe TV, and play video games. Simply chill, and attempt to take my mind away from desirous about the struggle, and let my physique relaxation earlier than the subsequent session. Or have a nap. [laughs]

Do you may have any rituals on struggle day?

The day of the struggle, I prefer to go for a protracted stroll with everybody on my staff. 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 recent 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 a number of the positives about combating in your house nation?

For me, it’s having my family and friends there. I’m combating 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 struggle within the UK, and I like being at dwelling. I like being round my family and friends. It provides me additional motivation to go on the market and carry out.

You will need to really feel like you may have unfinished enterprise with Belal Muhammad, what would you prefer to say to your followers who will likely be watching?

Simply, thanks for the assist, ? 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 exhibiting that I’m the most effective welterweight there may be, and I’ll proceed exhibiting that.

Watch UFC 304 dwell at 10pm ET on July 27 (3 a.m. July 28 within the UK) through EPSN+ PPV and TNT Sports activities.

Comply with Leon Edwards on Instagram!