Leon Edwards jokes about gaining cousins after winning UFC title
Leon Edwards realized a lifelong dream at UFC 278 when he knocked Kamaru Usman out in the final minute of their title fight to become the welterweight champion. The moment sent shockwaves around the MMA world as the reign of 'The Nigerian Nightmare' came to an end, and a new era in the 170-pound division began.
Edwards and Usman are set to face off once again at UFC 286 in March, and 'Rocky' recently spoke to ESPN MMA about the upcoming trilogy fight. Edwards reflected on how his life has changed since becoming the UFC champion, and jested that previously-unknown family members have suddenly appeared since his newfound fame:
"I don't think I've changed that much, but I've got more cousins! I have more cousins, way more people noticing me. I get to do stuff like go to the GQ [award evenings], BBC Personality of the Year, the fun part of it."
Catch Leon Edwards' comments below (1:00):
Leon Edwards grew up in Jamaica surrounded by crime - due to his father's activities - before moving to Birmingham at age nine. 'Rocky' lost his father when he was 13, and slowly fell into a life of crime himself until his mother enrolled him in an MMA club at 17 to steer him away from danger.
Edwards has since risen from the trenches of poverty and crime to become the undisputed UFC welterweight champion, and his KO at UFC 278 was universally voted the Knockout of the Year by MMA media outlets and pundits.
'Rocky' and Usman are set to headline UFC 286 in Edwards' adopted home country of England on a stacked card that includes Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev and Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze.
Leon Edwards believes home ground advantage will help him beat Kamaru Usman
Leon Edwards will attempt to defend his welterweight title for the first time at UFC 286 in London, and believes that fighting on home turf will give him an advantage.
Edwards will also take confidence from his previous fight with Kamaru Usman, as he was the first main to officially take Usman down in a fight as well as being the first man to KO 'The Nigerian Nightmare'.
'Rocky' has never lost an amateur or professional MMA fight in England, and the champion doesn't envision that record changing come March 19. Edwards recently told BT Sport:
"I've never lost in the UK, in pro and amateur. So I'm taking that confidence into it, I'm taking confidence knowing I can knock him out into it, I'm taking confidence knowing I can take him down into it, taking confidence knowing that once it hits the mat and I'm on top, I'm way better [than him]."
Watch Leon Edwards discuss home advantage in his upcoming fight below (11:45):