What Happened to Leon Edwards’ Dad? Colby Covington’s Controversial Comments at UFC 296 Press Conference Explained

Talking about his father, Rufus Edwards, is a pretty sensitive topic for the former welterweight champion, Leon Edwards. After all, the Jamaican-born fighter lost his father when he was just 13 years old. Life was already tough for ‘Rocky’ but losing his father made it even worse. Nevertheless, with guidance from his mother, Edwards found his way into the world of mixed martial arts and was able to leave his crime-ridden past behind. 

But what exactly happened to Rufus Edwards? Was he also involved in some kind of criminal activity? Today, let’s learn everything there is to know about the former welterweight champion’s father. 

What Happened to Leon Edwards’ father Rufus Edwards?

Leon Edwards’ father, to put it mildly, ran with the wrong crowd. Needless to say, life was hard in Jamaica. As a result, Rufus Edwards’ managed to make ends meet as a gang leader. In a promotional video released by UFC prior to Edwards’ fight against Belal Muhammad, ‘Rocky’ said, “In Jamaica, the neighborhood that I was brought up in, it was a gang-infested neighborhood. Shootouts, dr*gs… It’s weird to be normalized to hearing gunshots. But my dad was the gang leader… That’s the reason why he came to the UK, to give money to Jamaica and to support the gangs.”

But things didn’t really change when the family moved to Birmingham. Leon’s father, Rufus, once again got involved with gang activity and organized crime to make ends meet and take care of his family. In 2004, when Leon was just 13 years old, his father was shot at point-blank range and killed in the Spotlight Nightclub in West Croydon, London.

Also killed was the head doorman of the club, Mark Warmington, who witnesses testified tried to stop the shooters. According to The Guardian, Rufus and the mastermind of the shooting were involved in a financial dispute, which eventually led to the Jamaica native’s murder. According to reports, the shooting was carried out by a group of men, and nine men were charged with the murder of Rufus, and shooting up another nightclub in the same night. However, all nine men were cleared of all charges after a jury at a Bristol Crown Court found all the defendants not guilty. 

Edwards recounted in excruciating detail the hint of a tear in his eye, the moment his inconsolable mother told him that his father had passed on. “My mum, she’s a tough lady, you know, being a single mum,” ‘Rocky’ told Joe Rogan on episode #106 of JRE MMA Show. “It was probably like 2 in the morning. I was in my room. She was in her room. We hear the phone ringing. I heard her crying, and I knew from then something bad, you know.”

This is why Colby Covington’s comments about Leon’s father saw the usually laidback ‘Rocky’ try and go after ‘Chaos’ on stage. But what exactly did the former interim champion say? Let’s take a look at the happenings of the UFC 296 press conference.

What did Colby Covington say about Edwards’ dad?

If trash-talking was a sport, Colby Covington would certainly be in the running for the highest accolades. True to form, at the UFC 296 pre-fight press conference, Covington was doing his routine, trying his best to get under Edwards’ skin when he blurted out the lines, “On Saturday night, I’m going to bring you to a place you never want to be,” Covington shouted, “I’m going to bring you to the seventh level of hell. We’ll say ‘what’s up’ to your dad while we’re there.”

On hearing Covington’s incendiary comment, Edwards launched a water bottle instantly at ‘Chaos’ and jumped out of his seat to confront him. But before the duo came to blows, security stepped in to separate the two fighters. Covington had clearly struck a nerve, and Edwards’ rage-filled reaction was only reasonable. 

But there’s more to the story of Rufus Edwards. Edwards already knew that his father was involved in criminal activities from the very beginning. And during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, he made a revelation about his father. 

‘Rocky’ makes a horrific confession about his father

In the interview with Joe Rogan, ‘Rocky opened up about the circumstances leading up to his father’s death and how he was compelled to run in the wrong circles to make ends meet. Edwards claimed that even at a young age, he understood what could have happened to his father as a result of his being involved in organized crime. 

“My dad was a gang leader in my area and so I was one of the few kids who had a bicycle and a skateboard. If you consider the cards he was dealt, my dad did the best he could. I know he did wrong, getting involved in crime, and it led to his demise. But he had the smarts to immigrate to the UK and he soon brought his wife and kids to join him for a better life,” he said. But there was a catch. According to the former champion, incidences of violence and death were normal in Jamaica. Talking to The Guardian, he once said, “In Jamaica, killing seemed normal. We were used to gunshots and death all around us.”

Fortunately, his mother had him take up MMA to keep him away from a life of crime. Years later, she became the mother of a celebrated ex-UFC champion. And ‘Rocky’ seldom failed to impress his family, and the fighting community. He got a win over Covington and exacted his revenge. On top of that, he defeated Kamaru Usman twice—a feat that not many have achieved. And now, he presses forward to reclaim his welterweight belt.

What are your thoughts on Edwards’ early life? Do you think things would have been different if Edwards’ father wasn’t a gang leader? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.