The 3 Lives of Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards | Poverty, Ganglands, and Mma

Leon Edwards has officially joined the movement. If you’re looking for a new hero, and a story to inspire your own greatness, look no further than the UFC welterweight champion.

Leon, or ‘Rocky’ as he’s better known on the mats of MMA gyms the world over, has overcome the odds time and time again, carving his own path to glory while others drove straight.

In his own words he’s ‘lived three lives’. Poverty in Kingston, Jamaica, came before gang violence in Birmingham, UK, and MMA changing the game for his entire family at age 17.

The reigning welterweight champ opened the doors of Team Renegade’s Birmingham gym to Myprotein as we got to know the latest member of our community a little better.

He shared a story that must be heard to truly understand the magnitude of his accomplishments.

Watch now...

3 different lives

Leon was born in Kingston, Jamaica. His life in the Caribbean was far from the notion of an idyllic island paradise.

“I’ve lived two different lives. To be born in poverty in Jamaica, then emigrated to the UK. [I] got involved in gangs and street stuff, then got involved in mixed martial arts and became a world champion.

“It’s like three different lives that, like, I’ve been through and lived.”

Leon was forced to defend himself from an early age.

“To be born in Kingston, Jamaica, then coming to Birmingham, it’s a totally different life and environment. Jamaica is like a war zone. To come from there to Birmingham, they speak a different language.

“You go to school. You’re always getting in trouble in school ‘cos you’re fighting. Kids are making fun of your accent; I spoke patois at the time... It was defo a different life, but I knew it was a safer life, right?

“Even though we didn’t have the most money, it was a better environment.”