Is Leon Edwards Jamaican? Ethnicity, Nationality & More About the UFC Star

Fighting is central to former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards. From the violence-ridden streets in his childhood to the Octagon, the welterweight star embraced the fighting lifestyle. Despite losing the welterweight championship belt to Belal Muhammad, ‘Rocky’ hasn’t given up on the quest for the UFC gold. As the #1 welterweight contender returns for the first time since losing his title at UFC 304, the fighting community has been wondering about his origins.

So today, let’s take a look at the origin story of Leon Edwards and learn all about his ethnicity. What is his ethnicity? Where did he grow up? Let’s find out.

Where is Leon Edwards from? Ethnicity

Edwards was born on 25 August 1991 in Kingston, Jamaica. In a conversation with ESPN, he revealed he had a tough upbringing as he grew up in a wooden shack with a zinc roof. He once revealed, “As a kid growing up in Jamaica, all you see is crime, drugs, killing, shooting, poverty. Day in and day out.”

But soon after, his family moved to Birmingham, Erdington. But having moved to England, their lives as a family didn’t get any better. ‘Rocky’ is open about the fact that his father was involved in questionable activities. Despite being so close to criminal activities on the streets of Aston, Birmingham, he lived a relatively content life with meager resources.

The 22-4 welterweight fighter was often involved in street fights where he was known to protect his friends. Thus, earned his famous nickname ‘Rocky’ from his school days. However, his determined mother spotted the Ultimate Training Center while they were walking down the streets of Erdington. To get her son off the streets, she enrolled him in the gym and the rest is history.

But why exactly did Edwards move to England? Of course, it was one of the most important factors that made him the fighter that he is today. But if the reason is still a mystery to you, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get right into it!

Why did Leon Edwards move to England? Nationality & more

Talking to ESPN in 2022, Edwards said, “When I was about 5 or 6 years old, my father moved to London, where his mother was living. My dad sent for us—my mom, Fabian and me—when I was about 9 years old. We moved to Aston, a crime-ridden neighborhood in Birmingham. My dad stayed in London and we saw him on some weekends. He bought us a house, and my mom worked cleaning jobs to support us.”

A change in the landscape from Kingston to London also didn’t drastically change the life he was used to. Furthermore, the loss of his father also pushed him down a spiral as he joined a gang and indulged in criminal activities. He was just 13 when his father was murdered outside a nightclub in Croydon, London. Furthermore, he was also arrested for fighting and possession of a knife.

But the enrollment at the MMA gym in Erdington helped him leave the vicious lifestyle behind. Edwards made his MMA debut in 2010 and afterward fought for Fight UK MMA and also BAMMA before transitioning to UFC in 2014. Eight years later, ‘Rocky’ would defeat the most feared man in his division with a spectacular head-kick knockout, to establish himself as one of the all-time great strikers. Yep, we’re talking about his monumental win against Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. 

Now, the #1 welterweight contender is set to fight Sean Brady at UFC London. And with a win, he can redeem himself from the humiliating loss to Muhammad. As the Britisher gets ready for his next fight, the loudest cheer will certainly come from Jamaica and England. What are your thoughts on Edwards’ origin story? Let us know if it inspired you in the comments down below.