Leon Edwards is one of the top-ranked fighters in the welterweight division of the UFC. Through his combat sports career, he gained global recognition as a top contender and has since won 20 career fights. Though his success is what many people see, Leon Edwards’ parents who supported him in the background are one of the least-known people in his life.
Aside from his parents, the 33-year old has a son named Jayon and a brother, Fabian Edwards who is also an MMA fighter. Here is everything we know about his life outside the octagon.
Let’s Meet Leon Edwards’ Parents
As you would easily find, the Edwards was born on August 25, 1991, in Kingston, Jamaica to parents whose identity is not widely circulated. Whatever the case, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were the most incredible supporters of their son’s career. While in Kingston, the family lived in a one-bedroom apartment in an environment filled with criminal activities. By the time Leon was 9, his father moved the family to Aston, Birmingham thus starting another phase of life.
Focusing on Mr. Edwards’ career, Leon described it as questionable activities. Perhaps due to the circles that Mr. Edwards mingled with, he soon got the nickname ‘The General’. His mother, on the other hand, struggled with three jobs to keep the family moving.
Despite leaving the criminal scenes of Jamaica to start afresh, Mr. Edwards was soon caught up in a nightclub gun-shooting in 2005 which led to his death. At the time, Leon was 14 years old. Following his father’s death, he became hardened and started engaging in shady activities including selling drugs and stealing.
His mother soon discovered a gym in their Edinburg neighborhood, the Ultimate Training Center, and sent him there to start MMA training when he was 17 years old. Since he discovered martial arts, the course of his life changed and he never turned back till he launched a professional career. The fighter revealed that MMA saved him from ‘being dead, prison or dead broke’, all thanks to his mother who never gave up on her son.
The UFC Fighter is Not the Only Child of His Parents
Rocky as many friends from school referred to Leon is not the only child born into Edward’s family. He has a brother named Fabian Edwards who is also a mixed martial artist. Apparently, Leon, or Rocky as he is also known influenced his younger brother and other children in his neighborhood to also start martial arts training when he started visiting the gym.
Thankfully, their time at the gym paid off, as the siblings have since launched a career in combat sports. While Edwards is one of the easily recognizable names in the UFC since he made his debut with the promotion in 2014, his brother fights under Bellator MMA, another big promotion.
Aside from the two brothers, there are reports that they have another sister. Through his internet activities, there are pictures of him with a said sister, yet, her name is not known.
The Edinburg Raised Fighter is Not Married
Having captured the attention of martial arts aficionados with his fighting prowess, one would assume that he also enjoys the attention of a lover or partner outside the ring. Yet, he has not indicated any of such as he chooses to keep details about this area of his life private.
Since no speculation of a marriage or lover is known about Leon Edwards’ wife, likely, he is not married.
The 33-year-old is a Father of One Child
Rocky is the father of one child, a son named Jayon Edwards. The identity of his mother is not known. Nonetheless, Leon has social media uploads of his child.
The combatant revealed that he wants to give his son a better life than the one he had while growing up.
See Also: Marcin Tybura: 10 Fascinating Facts About The MMA Fighter
Other Fascinating Facts You Didnt Know
1. He started his Professional Career with Fight UK MMA in 2011
At the beginning of his career, Rocky fought under Fight UK MMA when he was just 20 years old. While under the fighting promotion, he won two out of three matches before he moved to Fight UK MMA.
However, it was when he moved to another promotion, BAMMA that he started gaining the attention of fighting aficionados. He secured his place by winning the welterweight division championship and faced off with some of the brand’s big names.
2. He is the First Boxer to Defeat Kamaru Usman
Edwards started as an underdog and lost to Kamaru Usman in 2015. Yet, he changed this in their next meet when he defeated Usman in August 2022. The victory broke Usman’s winning streak. Notably, boxing pundits also consider it one of the greatest UFC upsets.
With such a background, it is not surprising that their meet-up in UFC 286 sold out quickly. He sealed his win when he won the former champion through a majority decision.
3. Rocky Has a Black Belt in Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu
As one of the e dominant fighters in the welterweight division of the UFC, many are intrigued by his prowess. It turns out that he is a skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter.
He is said to have won his blackbelt in Brazilian jiu-Jitsu under Thomas Bracher. This came a month after his upset against Kamaru Usman at UFC 278.
4. Leon Edwards is an Advocate Against Gun Crimes
As you would easily find, his career took off against a troubled childhood filled with crime. But, he has since changed a new leaf to use that as an inspiration to do better. Edwards advocates against knife crime, especially among youths. He partners with organizations like Onside Legacy Youth Zone, a youth program operating in Liverpool, Birmingham, and London.
The organization reaches out to children between the ages of 12-16.
Aside from giving physical training to children at the center, he also spends some of his career earnings to help them. Most of the monies raised helped to cover their £60 membership registration.
5. How Much is the UFC Fighter’s Net Worth?
Leon Edwards has not revealed his net worth. Yet, sources like The Sports Daily give an estimated amount of $1.5 million which he made from his combat sports career. Reportedly, his earnings are topped by the thousands of dollars he gets from endorsements.
Understandably, this amount will soon change due to his career progression. As a pay-per-view star and winner of the fight with Usman at UFC 286, Firstsportz.com reported that he won $1.3 million in his face-off with Usman.
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