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 recollections 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 thought to his mates 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 classes, 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 have to really feel proud that you just get to signify your homeland?
A hundred percent. To be born in Jamaica, not figuring out 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 signify all of the individuals 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, you understand? For both Jamaican’s or the UK. One thing for youths to look as much as, and be like; ‘okay, I could be myself and in addition obtain greatness.’ (It’s about individuals considering) ‘I don’t have to vary, or be a sure strategy to turn into champion.’ I feel it’s about being your self, and being humble, and you’ll obtain your desires.
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 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 crucial. Even the YMCAs. After I was a child, there was a variety of YMCAs round, clearly, in impoverished areas, with music, soccer, and completely different sports activities, and after college you possibly can go there however they’re all closed down now, so I really feel prefer it’s positively necessary. Sports activities modified my life and it may possibly assist to vary different child’s lives.
You might be identified for understanding very arduous 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 battle, I’m all the time within the health club, 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 health club positively helps.
In the event you get a session the place you possibly can 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 have to get my coronary heart price up, and sweat somewhat bit, and that’s once I really feel the most effective.
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 really doing it, whether or not it’s combating or wrestling, jiu-jitsu. You may run all you need, and be match when working, however it’s two completely different cardio programs (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, typically three time a day, and the physique is simply always burning (energy), so that you gotta preserve fuelled to really feel energized in your classes. I like hen. In camp, I usually eat much less purple 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 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 in addition media earlier than a giant battle. How do you spend your downtime should you get any?
I like to look at TV, and play video games. Simply chill, and attempt to take my mind away from enthusiastic about the battle, and let my physique relaxation earlier than the subsequent session. Or have a nap. [laughs]
Do you’ve got any rituals on battle day?
The day of the battle, I prefer to go for a protracted stroll with everybody on my group. 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 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 battle within the UK, and I like being at house. I like being round my family and friends. It provides me further motivation to go on the market and carry out.
You have to really feel like you’ve got unfinished enterprise with Belal Muhammad, what would you prefer to say to your followers who shall be watching?
Simply, thanks for the assist, you understand? I’m going on the market to place all of it on the road. I actually 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’s, and I’ll proceed exhibiting 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.
