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 by chance 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 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 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 teen, however you have been born in Kingston, Jamaica and have develop into the primary Jamaican born UFC champion. You could really feel proud that you just get to symbolize your homeland?
A hundred percent. To be born in Jamaica, not realizing what combined 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 symbolize all of the folks in Jamaica.
Does this make you are feeling an additional accountability by way of 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 in addition obtain greatness.’ (It’s about folks pondering) ‘I don’t have to vary, or be a sure solution to develop into champion.’ I believe it’s about being your self, and being humble, and you may obtain your desires.
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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 adverse influences which might be out on the streets (Edward’s brother was tragically shot in a London nightclub). How vital is it for governments all all over the world to put money into youth sport assets?
I really feel prefer it’s crucial. Even the YMCAs. After I was a child, there was plenty of YMCAs round, clearly, in impoverished areas, with music, soccer, and completely different sports activities, and after faculty you may go there however they’re all closed down now, so I really feel prefer it’s positively vital. Sports activities modified my life and it might assist to vary different child’s lives.
You might be identified for figuring out very arduous 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 combat, I’m at all times within the gymnasium, coaching and studying and enhancing. So, whether or not it’s for common health, or your aim is to be a fighter, no matter you select to do, being within the gymnasium positively helps.
If you happen to get a session the place you may 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 fee up, and sweat a little bit bit, and that’s once 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 combating is in truly doing it, whether or not it’s combating or wrestling, jiu-jitsu. You may run all you need, and be match when operating, but it surely’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 Influence Whey Protein in there. I’ll have that with bananas and almond butter. I attempt to eat each 3 hours, mainly. I’m coaching twice, generally three time a day, and the physique is simply continually burning (energy), so that you gotta hold fuelled to really feel energized in your periods. 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 properly. 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 prefer to drink electrolytes.
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You might be pulled in every kind of various instructions with coaching and in addition media earlier than a giant combat. How do you spend your downtime should 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 combat, and let my physique relaxation earlier than the subsequent session. Or have a nap. [laughs]
Do you have got any rituals on combat day?
The day of the combat, I prefer to go for a protracted 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 a substitute 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 excellent and I’ve by no means misplaced a combat within the UK, and I like being at dwelling. I like being round my family and friends. It offers me additional motivation to go on the market and carry out.
You could really feel like you have got unfinished enterprise with Belal Muhammad, what would you prefer to say to your followers who will probably be watching?
Simply, thanks for the help, ? 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 exhibiting that I’m the perfect welterweight there’s, and I’ll proceed exhibiting that.
Watch UFC 304 stay 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!
