Leon Edwards is known for his calm demeanor, but at the UFC 296 press conference, the former welterweight champion momentarily lost his cool. Sitting alongside his fellow fighters, Edwards seemed composed until Colby Covington crossed a line. When Covington dragged Edwards’ late father into his trash talk, things escalated quickly. “I’m going to bring you to the seventh level of h–l,” ‘Chaos’ taunted. “We’ll say ‘what’s up’ to your dad while we’re there.”

The remark struck a nerve with Edwards, who immediately hurled a water bottle at his opponent. For the typically level-headed ‘Rocky’, this outburst was uncharacteristic — but it stemmed from something deeply personal. Edwards’ father holds a significant place in his heart and his tragic passing shaped much of Leon’s journey. When Edwards was just 13 years old, his father was tragically mur—ed in a nightclub shooting in London. This devastating loss forced Edwards to grow up quickly, taking on new responsibilities and stepping up to support his family. Let’s take a look at that front!

All about Rufus Edwards: Leon Edwards’ late father

Leon Edwards was only 13 when he lost his father — and it wasn’t in a normal way. The former welterweight champion faced immense hardships while growing up in Kingston, Jamaica. Born into a family of four, Edwards lived with his mother, Pherowna Kerr, his brother, Fabian, and his father, Rufus Edwards. Their home in Leon’s native place was a small wooden shack with zinc roofing, situated in a crime-infested neighborhood.

Despite their difficult surroundings, Edwards’ father worked hard to provide for his children and bring them moments of joy. Eventually, the family migrated to England which eventually became Leon’s escape ground. But that followed much later! And not before a ton of tragedy. The former champ once recalled in an interview with ESPN how he was the only child in his neighborhood with a remote-control car and a bicycle. While in Jamaica, his father ensured they had what they needed, but the means behind it came from a dangerous path. Rufus Edwards was involved in crime and gang-related activities, funding the family’s limited comforts through risky and often unlawful means.

However, according to the BBC, Rufus Edwards was more than just involved in crime—he was a respected figure and allegedly a gang leader known as ‘The General.’ As Leon grew older, he started to see the darker side of his father’s world. The boy who once played football carefree in the Caribbean soon found himself amid escalating danger. Sensing the growing threat, Rufus took action to protect his family, arranging for them to leave Jamaica and start anew in Birmingham, England.

One moment, Leon was desensitized to the sound of gunfire, a normal part of his environment. The next, he was in his room in Birmingham, finally in a place of safety. But just when it seemed life had taken a turn for the better, tragedy struck.

How did Leon Edwards’ father pass away?

The phone rang in their new Birmingham home at 2 a.m. on a cold October night in 2004. Midnight calls are rarely good news, and as Leon Edwards recalled to BBC, “When it’s a late phone call, you know it’s something bad.” His mother answered, and moments later, her sobbing pierced the silence.

“I knew what he was involved in, so I knew eventually something would happen to my dad,” Edwards said. “It was a traumatic situation. It wasn’t like he died in his sleep – he got mur—ed.” The 33-year-old UFC star, now a decorated fighter with numerous accolades, still doesn’t know every detail about his father’s death. What he does know is that his father, Edwards Sr., was shot and killed in a London nightclub during a dispute over money.

The tragic loss sent young Leon down a dark path, consumed by anger and grief. “I was arrested a few times, for fights and having a knife. My mum had to come to the police station many times to get me out,” Edwards told BBC.

Realizing her son was spiraling, Edwards’ mother stepped in. She introduced Leon and his brother to MMA when he was 17, hoping it would provide structure and discipline. It proved to be a life-changing decision. By 18, ‘Rocky’ made his amateur MMA debut, and five years later, Edwards joined the UFC. And to his credit, the Brit dethroned perhaps one of the greatest champions in company history at UFC 278 when he beat Kamaru Usman via a fifth-round head kick. The boy from the infectious neighborhood was finally a UFC champion!

His resilience and determination earned him the nickname ‘Rocky,’ inspired by the iconic Rocky Balboa — a fighter who battled against the odds to rise to the top. Now, Edwards is set to face Sean Brady at UFC Fight Night 254, determined to reclaim UFC gold and write a new chapter in his journey. Can Leon Edwards rise above tragedy once again and reclaim his strap? Share your thoughts on his incredible journey in the comments below.