Leon Edwards is a professional mixed martial artist from England who currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of March 2023, Edwards is currently the UFC Welterweight Champion and is ranked #4 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, and has a professional record of 21 wins and 3 losses. Most recently, he defeated the legendary fighter Kamaru Usman in a majority decision at UFC 286, defending his title in the process.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Edwards moved to Birmingham, England at the age of nine. He was exposed to crime at an early age, and his father was killed when he was thirteen years old. He then became involved in criminal activity, but he was able to turn his life around at the age of 17 when his mother enrolled him in an MMA club. Edwards made his professional debut in 2010 and signed a contract with Fight UK MMA. After obtaining a 2-1 record, he fought for BAMMA, where he won the welterweight championship against Wayne Murrie and defended it once against Shaun Taylor. In 2014, he made his UFC debut against Cláudio Silva, after which he went on to win against such well-known opponents in the league as Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Rafael dos Anjos, and Gunnar Nelson.

Edwards is widely considered one of the best fighters in the world who has continued to impress in the UFC and is expected to be a top contender for years to come. He also commands a huge social media following, with well over a million adoring fans watching his every move on Instagram.