"Delete this so they don't cancel the champ" - Fans left surprised as decade old Leon Edwards tweets about 'uppercutting' his girlfriend if she cheated on him resurface online
Leon Edwards shocked the world at UFC 278 by handing Kamaru Usman his first UFC loss with a vicious fifth-round knockout via a head kick. Edwards was down on the scorecards and would have lost the fight without the knockout.
Becoming a champion can bring newfound fame, however, and many fans have been left shocked as Edwards' old tweets have resurfaced.
From 2012 to 2014 Leon Edwards must of been going through some shit https://t.co/DoNgkKfmfT
Amazing https://t.co/bj97C0eqHO
Think this best describes Leon edwards in 2012 https://t.co/yfoHVmBmyP
Leon is anti casual Pussy eating https://t.co/AYxSFeMwdQ
Leon maybe the funniest man in the UFC because I have been laughing at his tweets the last 20 minutes https://t.co/r49uGWhsgy
This Nattolino guy was Leonโs arch Nemesis in 2012 lmao https://t.co/YrJ6K2XZo5
The tweets from Leon Edwards, who has often prided himself on being humble and not engaging in trash-talk, suggest that he perhaps wasn't always that way. But some fans were quick to defend the welterweight champion, pointing out how long ago the tweets were posted:
@Bendaman2001 You must be going through some shit to be searching his tweets from 10 years ago.
@Bendaman2001 Why are u spending the time to go that far back?
@Bendaman2001 Dragging up 10 year old tweets after someoneโs changed their lives for the best.. the saddest thing youโll see in the world..
@Bendaman2001 Nothing better to be doing than going through someone's 10 year old tweets looking for anything to farm impressions and attention. I don't know whether to laugh at freaks like you or simply feel sorry for you tbh
@Bendaman2001 Damn already digging
Other fans applauded Edwards' old tweets:
@Bendaman2001 Need this Leon back
@Bendaman2001 BASED
@Bendaman2001 Holy shit 20-21 year old Leon was something else, that's funny. Now that he's become an overnight sensation everything is going to get pulled up.
@Bendaman2001 They said โbro has no personality rnโ well he def had one before ๐๐๐
Some fans even alluded to cultural changes over the past ten years:
@Bendaman2001 These are standard posts for 2012-13 tbh
@Bendaman2001 This is just what people posted in 2013. V normal. And personally? I think we should get back to this.
@Bendaman2001 Thank god I didnโt have twitter when I was 20. I bet heโs fuckin horrified to see these tweets
Two fans even alluded to 'canceling' Leon Edwards while taking opposing views on the subject:
@Bendaman2001 that third one is crazy. delete this so they dont cancel the champ๐๐
@Bendaman2001 Cancel him!!!
While Edwards' tweets may be problematic in today's society, it is important to note that ten years ago, people tweeted things they didn't necessarily mean - for comedic value. Edwards doesn't have a history of violence against women, as the tweets might lead one to believe.
It may be unsettling for the new champion to have his old tweets brought up while celebrating the biggest moment of his life. The suggested cancelation, however, seems a bit overboard considering that his actions do not line up with his tweets, which he would likely attribute to immaturity.
Leon Edwards will likely defend his title against Kamaru Usman in London
Following Edwards' victory, UFC president Dana White suggested that his first title defense will probably be a trilogy fight with Kamaru Usman in London. White stated in his UFC 278 post-fight press conference:
"I don't think he'd have to sit and wait anyways... You'd have to go back into camp and start training again anyways. First of all, we'd have to have the date. We're booked up all the way to... I think we're booked up into January. There'll be no waiting for them."
White was then asked if the rematch would take place in March, to which he responded:
"We can go to England whenever the hell we want to now. I mean, we could go to England before - we were selling out England before. Now you start looking at, do you do a bigger arena?"
The trilogy seems like the most likely title defense for Edwards, as, despite the loss, Usman's resume should guarantee him an immediate rematch. While every other welterweight will want their shot at the title now that Usman is no longer the champion, they will all likely have to wait for at least one more fight.
Watch Dana White's full UFC 278 post-fight press conference below: