Who is Leon Edwards’ Coach Dave Lovell? Gym, Teammates, & More About the UFC Star

The person behind a fighter’s success is often the one who trains and coaches them. Needless to say, the same is true for the UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards. Team Renegade and coach Dave Lovell have played a massive role in the development of the former welterweight champion. With his teammates’ support from all around Birmingham, ‘Rocky’ ensured to win 22 of his 26 fights in the world of mixed martial arts. 

Did you know that Ian Garry was once a part of Lovell’s gym? Well, that’s a story for another time. Today, let’s look closely at the team working behind ‘Rocky’, especially his coach, Dave Lovell.

Meet Dave Lovell, Leon Edwards’ coach

Coach Dave Lovell and Edwards go a long way back. The current champion holds Lovell in the light of a father figure, who helped him through a tough childhood. Lovell is known to be a harsh taskmaster and closely monitors everything Rocky does. The 33-year-old not only has a great coach but also a great team behind him. He currently trains at the Team Renegade MMA and has taken his game to the next level. 

While the coaches need to motivate their students with inspirational words, Lovell had a different strategy when he saw his fighter losing a championship fight. This was highlighted back when ‘Rocky’ was competing for the welterweight belt at UFC 278. And it was nothing like the usual motivational speech that other corners often shout. Instead, Lovell decided to give the welterweight champ one final push. He shouted, “You’ve got to stop feeling sorry for your f—ing self. Come on then, what’s wrong with you?! Come on Leon, you got this man.” Of course, these words seemed to help Edwards secure an impressive KO win over Kamaru Usman. But that doesn’t mean he’d win every single fight thrown his way. 

His last bout against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 ended with a disappointing defeat. ‘Rocky’ not only lost the welterweight championship title but also had his 12-fight win streak broken. And it was even more saddening for the coach. Following the bout, Lovell said, “It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but I take nothing from Belal. He won. He waited his time [for a title shot] like Leon did, so he made the most of it. Fair play to him, but yeah, it’s a bitter pill for me to swallow for the simple fact of how Leon lost it. The lackluster effort, for whatever reason. We all know that was, what, 30, 35, 40% of Leon Edwards that night. So [it’s] one of them, man.”

But do you know who the former welterweight champion trains with? If not, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a look at the place where Edwards’ trains for his battles and his training partners. 

Who does Leon Edwards train with? Gym and teammates

Well, ‘Rocky’ prepares himself for his battles at Team Renegade MMA, Birmingham, England. Team Renegade MMA initially started as a Jiu-Jitsu gym but later became an MMA gym after Leon Edwards UTC gym was closed in 2018. The Jamaican and his team member, Tom Breeze, have been working hard to get the best fighters from Birmingham into their gym. Fighting against the best in the business has helped them improve their game as well.

While Edwards has already won UFC gold and defended it twice, next in line is his brother Fabian, who is on the cusp of getting a middleweight shot at Bellator. Another of his teammates, Arnold Allen, is also eyeing the UFC featherweight belt. While Edwards is training under the watchful eyes of David Lovell, his next opponent will be a big challenge.

Now, the #1 welterweight contender is set to lock horns with Sean Brady at UFC London. With a 1-fight losing streak on his MMA record, Edwards will have to try his best to overcome Brady and secure a win. Maybe after that, we’ll get to witness a rematch between ‘Rocky’ and ‘Remember The Name’. But we’d have to wait for this Saturday night to know what happens next.

What do you think of Lovell’s role in Edwards’ success? Do you think his influence can get ‘Rocky’ a win at UFC London? Let us know what you think in the comments below.