UFC 286: Leon Edwards' title defence continues inspiring underdog story

Edwards has not mislaid since his decision by Usman 8 years ago

In 2019, Leon Edwards was booed successful beforehand of his location fans astatine the O2 Arena successful London. On Saturday, helium was celebrated successful the aforesaid venue arsenic perchance the top British mixed martial creator successful history.

Should Edwards triumph his adjacent fight, helium volition surpass Bisping arsenic the Briton with the astir UFC rubric defences.

The fans showed their emotion for Edwards passim the lawsuit successful London, chanting his nickname "Rocky" portion passionately cheering each onslaught helium landed connected his Nigerian opponent, but it has not ever been that way.

Only 4 years ago, the assemblage sided with Edwards' fashionable Icelandic hostile Gunnar Nelson and jeered the Briton arsenic helium fought his mode to a divided determination win.

"I took the longest roadworthy to get here. I've earned my respect the hard way. No 1 gave maine nothing. It makes [this win] adjacent much satisfying for me, my team, the UK and mixed martial arts," said Edwards.

"It means the satellite to me. I consciousness it's each kid's dream, and to person it hap astatine 31 years aged aft specified a unsmooth spot successful my career, it's truly the icing connected the cake."

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'I'm a kid calved successful Jamaica with nothing'

Edwards was calved successful Jamaica but moved to the UK astir the property of nine.

In Jamaica, Edwards' begetter was the person of a pack which saw him exposed to drugs, weapon unit and murder.

Edwards' begetter brought his household - which included Edwards, his parent and his member Fabian - to Britain for a safer upbringing, but calamity would soon strike with his begetter killed successful a shooting successful London.

The nonaccomplishment caused a "spiral effect" which led Edwards into the satellite of pack unit successful Birmingham, earlier uncovering a mode retired aft joining an MMA gym astatine the property of 17.

Edwards ne'er looked back.

"I've been done heavy and bladed and I genuinely judge the travel I've been done helped maine beryllium here," helium said.

"I'm a kid calved successful Jamaica with nothing. My dada was progressive successful pack crime. A azygous mum raised me. It's a large communicative to tell, and to marque my lad arrogant of maine for what I'm doing, means the satellite to me."

After joining the UFC successful 2014, Edwards' deed a bump erstwhile helium suffered decision by Usman successful 2015.

Edwards has said antecedently that was the infinitesimal helium knew helium could bushed the 35-year-old.

He past embarked connected a 12-fight unbeaten tally which has included winning the rubric from and past defending it against Usman, portion besides overcoming the disappointment of aggregate combat cancellations and being removed from the UFC rankings successful 2020 due to the fact that of inactivity.

Edwards has ne'er been arsenic outspoken arsenic astir different UFC champions, alternatively preferring to fto his warring bash the talking, but successful winning implicit and capturing the hearts of MMA fans, helium has shown however embracing your property tin reap rewards.

UFC president Dana White says Edwards' title-winning communicative is simply a "game changer" for the UK.

"England has a satellite champion, looks similar we'll beryllium doing a batch much rubric fights here," helium said.

"If the champion fights 3 times a twelvemonth and we bash him implicit present successful London, it makes sense.

"The archetypal clip we came implicit present was successful 2002. We came to Manchester and that started the detonation implicit here. Now we person a champion bringing rubric fights implicit here, it's a crippled changer for the UK."

What's adjacent for Edwards?

White said successful his post-fight quality league that American welterweight Colby Covington volition get the adjacent changeable astatine Edwards' belt.

Covington, 35, weighed successful arsenic the backup for the main lawsuit successful London and was sat cageside astatine the O2 Arena.

However, it is not a determination with which Edwards agrees.

"I don't cognize however that makes sense. He's not fought for implicit a twelvemonth and half," said Edwards.

"I don't cognize however helium gets a rubric changeable erstwhile there's different guys who person been progressive and merit a changeable and didn't beryllium out. I'm the king present and I consciousness I should determine who's next."

Another combatant who has been touted arsenic a imaginable hostile for Edwards is Jorge Masvidal.

Masvidal and Edwards person history, with the American striking Edwards backstage pursuing his triumph implicit Nelson successful 2019.

The brace were owed to conscionable successful December 2021 but Masvidal pulled retired with injury.

He volition combat Gilbert Burns successful Miami adjacent period - a combat Edwards says helium whitethorn attend.

"If Masvidal beats Gilbert that's the combat to make, PPV [pay-per=view] wise," said Edwards.

"I consciousness similar there's a storyline to tell. If helium gets the occupation done, I'll see it.

"But anyone tin get it. I'm the champion, I'm inactive young. Prove your lawsuit successful the part and I'll combat you."