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 and erase reminiscences 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 thought to his pals as “Rocky,” being a champion can be about illustration, and giving every little thing 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 largest bout of his profession.
You moved to Birmingham, England, with your loved ones as a teenager, however you had been born in Kingston, Jamaica and have change into the primary Jamaican born UFC champion. It’s essential to really feel proud that you simply get to signify your homeland?
100%. To be born in Jamaica, not understanding what combined martial arts was, to emigrating to the UK and turning into the world champion, it’s a loopy story, so I’m very proud to signify all of the individuals 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 youths to look as much as, and be like; ‘okay, I may be myself and in addition obtain greatness.’ (It’s about individuals pondering) ‘I don’t have to alter, or be a sure method to change into champion.’ I believe 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 a number of the adverse influences which are out on the streets (Edward’s brother was tragically shot in a London nightclub). How necessary is it for governments all world wide to put money into youth sport sources?
I really feel prefer it’s essential. Even the YMCAs. After I was a child, there was quite a lot of YMCAs round, clearly, in impoverished areas, with music, soccer, and completely different sports activities, and after faculty 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 will probably assist to alter different child’s lives.
You’re recognized for understanding very exhausting within the fitness center 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 fitness center simply helps, additionally with my psychological well being, even when I’m not in coaching camp for a battle, I’m all the time within the fitness center, coaching and studying and bettering. So, whether or not it’s for normal health, or your objective is to be a fighter, no matter you select to do, being within the fitness center undoubtedly helps.
In the event you get a session the place you’ll be able to select your personal 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 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 bit bit, and that’s after I really feel one of the best.
Those that have by no means tried MMA, in all probability can’t comprehend how a lot energy is required to maneuver the cussed body weight of an opponent. How do you’re employed on that?
One of the simplest ways to get higher energy and cardio for combating is in really doing it, whether or not it’s combating or wrestling, jiu-jitsu. You possibly can run all you need, and be match when operating, but it surely’s two completely different cardio programs (in comparison with) wrestling.
What do you prefer to eat and are there any dietary supplements which are a staple?
Within the morning, after I get up, I’ll have breakfast; usually porridge oats with a scoop of Myprotein Affect 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, typically three time a day, and the physique is simply consistently 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 crimson meat and extra hen and fish as a result of I’ve to maintain my weight down as nicely. 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’re pulled in all types of various instructions with coaching and in addition media earlier than an enormous battle. How do you spend your downtime for those who get any?
I like to observe TV, and play video games. Simply chill, and attempt to take my mind away from serious about the battle, and let my physique relaxation earlier than the following session. Or have a nap. [laughs]
Do you’ve any rituals on battle day?
The day of the battle, I prefer to go for an extended stroll with everybody on my workforce. 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 battle within the UK, and I like being at house. I like being round my family and friends. It offers me additional motivation to go on the market and carry out.
It’s essential to really feel like you’ve unfinished enterprise with Belal Muhammad, what would you prefer to say to your followers who will likely be watching?
Simply, thanks for the assist, you already know? I’m going on the market to place all of it on the road. I actually imagine 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 one of the best 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.
