Leon Edwards has won six straight since dropping a decision to current Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Currently ranked No. 10, “Rocky” will look to make the title picture even more interesting with a win over Gunnar Nelson this weekend.
Their thrilling encounter will happen at UFC Fight Night 147. As the Brit prepares to fight in front of his countrymen, learn more about him through these figures.
8: Years as a professional mixed martial artist this coming June. Edwards made his debut as a welterweight in 2011. He won his first bout to Damian Zlotnicki by first-round TKO at Fight UK MMA: Fight UK 4.
2: Wins without a loss to start his professional career. After the win over Zlotnicki, Edwards faced Pawel Zwiefka in a middleweight bout and won by unanimous decision. On his next fight, he returned to 170.
9: Fights in different English organizations before getting signed by the UFC. Edwards went 8-1, with his lone setback coming by disqualification after throwing an illegal knee. In that long streak of victories, Edwards won the BAMMA welterweight championship by submitting Wayne Murrie. He successfully defended the belt with a stunning knockout of Shaun Taylor before relinquishing it.
33: Significant strikes against Claudio Silva’s 34 when they fought at UFC Fight Night 56. While the fight was pretty much even in the striking department, Silva landed three takedowns to eke out a split decision victory. After this setback, Edwards scored two straight wins at the expense of Seth Baczynski and Pawel Pawlak.
8: Seconds was his fastest finish to date. Edwards met Baczynski at UFC Fight Night 64. With a solid left hand, “Rocky” dropped his opponent. Two punches on the ground followed and the fight was over. This remains the second fastest knockout in welterweight history. It also afforded Edwards with his lone Performance of the Night award.
84: Significant strikes was the most he landed in a single fight. It happened in the main event of UFC Fight Night 132, where he dominated the veteran Donald Cerrone.
48: Percent striking accuracy. After 10 UFC appearances, Edwards has attempted 704 significant strikes and landed 340.
6: Wins by knockout. His victims include Zlotnicki, Jonathan Bilton, Wendle Lewis, Taylor, Baczynski and Peter Sobotta.
3: UFC fights where he scored three takedowns. These were against Albert Tumenov, Vicente Lugue and Bryan Barberena.
3: Losses in his career. No one has ever stopped Edwards. Two of his three defeats came by decision and one came by disqualification.
7: Countries in which he has fought in. Apart from his home country of England, Edwards has also fought in Brazil, Poland, Scotland, Netherlands, Singapore and the United States.
27: Years of age. While he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on Aug. 25, 1991, Edwards now call Birmingham, England, his home.