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 reminiscences of their earlier conflict in 2021, when Edwards by accident 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 pieces 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 teenager, however you had been born in Kingston, Jamaica and have change into the primary Jamaican born UFC champion. You should really feel proud that you just get to signify 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 signify all of the folks in Jamaica.
Does this make you’re feeling an additional duty when it comes to the way you conduct your self as champion?
It’s good illustration, you realize? For both Jamaican’s or the UK. One thing for youths to look as much as, and be like; ‘okay, I might be myself and likewise obtain greatness.’ (It’s about folks pondering) ‘I don’t have to vary, 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 goals.
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 all over the world to put money into youth sport assets?
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 totally different sports activities, and after faculty you may 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 possibly assist to vary different child’s lives.
You’re identified for understanding very onerous within the health club and never simply contained in the cage. We’ve seen you crushing deadlifts and working 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 combat, I’m all the time within the health club, coaching and studying and enhancing. So, whether or not it’s for basic health, or your aim is to be a fighter, no matter you select to do, being within the health club undoubtedly helps.
Should you get a session the place you may 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 functional. I discover simply doing weights, or simply doing chest alone is a bit boring, so I must get my coronary heart charge up, and sweat a bit bit, and that’s once I really feel the very best.
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 may run all you need, and be match when working, but it surely’s two totally different cardio programs (in comparison with) wrestling.
What do you wish 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, typically three time a day, and the physique is simply always burning (energy), so that you gotta maintain 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 nicely. Typically I’ll have a steak, however not typically while in coaching camp.
I’m very large 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 likewise media earlier than a giant combat. How do you spend your downtime in case you get any?
I like to look at TV, and play video games. Simply chill, and attempt to take my mind away from interested by the combat, and let my physique relaxation earlier than the following session. Or have a nap. [laughs]
Do you’ve any rituals on combat day?
The day of the combat, I wish 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 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 combat within the UK, and I like being at residence. I like being round my family and friends. It offers me additional motivation to go on the market and carry out.
You should really feel like you’ve unfinished enterprise with Belal Muhammad, what would you wish to say to your followers who can be watching?
Simply, thanks for the help, you realize? I’m going on the market to place all of it on the road. I really 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 the very best welterweight there’s, and I’ll proceed displaying that.
Watch UFC 304 dwell at 10pm ET on July 27 (3 a.m. July 28 within the UK) by way of EPSN+ PPV and TNT Sports activities.