Leon Edwards, the reigning UFC Welterweight champion, defends his title for the third time this Saturday (27 July 2024) at UFC 304, held at the Co-Op Live in Manchester, England. He faces off against veteran contender Belal Muhammad.
Edwards is a masterful technician, but what truly sets him apart is his unwavering composure in the face of a chaotic cage fight. He's always aware of the scorecards and the clock, never coasting on a lead that isn't truly there. This tactical awareness is exemplified in his fights against Gunnar Nelson and Colby Covington, where he's content to take a round off knowing he has already secured victory. He understands that a win is a win, even if it means ending the fight on the bottom.
A prime example of this composure is his stunning knockout of Kamaru Usman. Despite being fatigued, Edwards responded to his coach's motivational pep talk with a perfectly timed head kick that sent Usman crashing to the canvas. This ability to rise above adversity and capitalize on a fleeting opportunity is a testament to his mental strength and strategic brilliance.
Let's dive into the specifics of Edwards' skillset:
Striking:
Edwards excels at both long and close-range striking. While he's effective in the pocket, he prefers to keep exchanges brief, opting for short, impactful strikes whenever possible.
One of his key techniques is his consistent use of jabs, more than most southpaws. While he engages in hand-fighting and parries with his lead hand as a southpaw typically would, he is particularly adept at slapping down his opponent's lead hand and stepping into a jab. This allows him to gain range and set up a follow-up left hand with greater accuracy.
Edwards masterfully utilizes the southpaw double-threat, forcing his opponents to choose between defending a left cross or a left kick. This strategy, often deployed after a jab, forces his opponent to momentarily react to his head snap, creating a slight outside angle for him to unleash a powerful cross or kick. His left body kick is particularly sharp and well-timed, surpassing the average UFC left kick.
The head kick that ended Usman's reign is a perfect example of this strategy. Edwards strategically targeted Usman's midsection throughout the fight, utilizing front kicks and round kicks to the leg and liver, all building towards the fight-ending head kick. This meticulously crafted plan highlights his long-term strategy and execution.
While his fight against Covington was less dynamic, Edwards showcased another intriguing kick: the inside crescent kick. This technique, gaining popularity in MMA, allows him to target the midsection with a lead-leg front kick that angles inwards, delivering a sharp strike without exposing himself to takedowns.
Edwards relies heavily on counter-striking. While he's willing to initiate offense, especially in close fights, he often unleashes his most devastating strikes in response to his opponent's actions. His counter-striking prowess is evident in his fights against fellow southpaws like Peter Sobotta and Nate Diaz. Against Sobotta, he repeatedly countered with a looping cross counter over the jab, later switching to a precise uppercut. Against Diaz, he effectively utilized a mix of calf kicks, jabs, and heavy counter swings, exploiting Diaz's aggressive style.
Edwards is adept at kicking from his back foot, a risky manoeuvre that many fighters struggle with. As his opponent advances, he feigns with his lead hand, sets his feet, and blasts a left kick into the midsection. This technique requires exceptional timing and precision to avoid being countered or having his kick blocked.
Another striking highlight is his tendency to follow a left high kick with a lunging left hand. This sudden attack, fueled by the southpaw double-threat, forces his opponent to react to the kick, leaving their hands in an awkward position to block the subsequent punch.
In recent years, Edwards has earned a reputation for his excellent clinch striking. He routinely exploits the moment when fighters drop their hands as they break from the clinch, delivering a decisive strike. However, Edwards' true mastery lies in his devastating left elbow from the clinch.
While elbowing from the clinch is a common tactic in MMA, Edwards consistently delivers a crushing left elbow on the break, setting him apart from his peers. He excels at gaining an angle before throwing the elbow, stepping across his opponent's body and encouraging them to turn into the strike. This strategy is particularly effective against aggressive fighters like Rafael dos Anjos, allowing Edwards to interrupt their offensive momentum and capitalize on their vulnerability. His head position further enhances his effectiveness, as he uses his forehead to pressure his opponent's jaw, dictating their posture and setting the stage for the devastating elbow.
Edwards' third fight against Usman showcased a significant evolution in his striking. While in their second fight, Edwards' footwork sometimes let him down, leading to him being trapped against the fence, he actively forced Usman to chase him in their most recent bout. He employed more fluid lateral movement and direction changes, forcing Usman to constantly reset his stance and adjust his pursuit. This strategy allowed Edwards to exploit Usman's lack of agility, repeatedly landing punishing low kicks, particularly targeting Usman's inner thigh and exacerbating the speed differential.
Furthermore, Edwards demonstrated increased willingness to stand his ground, engaging Usman in close-range exchanges. This tactic, while risky, proved beneficial as it prevented Usman from walking him down and afforded Edwards more opportunities to work at distance, where he truly shines.
Wrestling:
Edwards, who spent time training at American Kickboxing Academy, has transformed into an elite wrestler at 170 pounds.
His takedowns are not only swift but also expertly angled. He ducks into double-legs with exceptional speed, immediately hitting his opponent's hips and using this momentum to drive through the shot or secure a body lock against the cage. His transitions from double-legs to body locks are particularly impressive, showcasing his adaptability and creativity within the wrestling exchange.
Edwards frequently incorporates trips from the clinch, utilizing his strong frame to secure takedowns. He also demonstrates impressive shucking technique, moving towards the back of opponents like Nate Diaz, successfully transitioning to a back take or a trip from behind.
Edwards' notable takedown of Usman, a feat accomplished by no one else, is a testament to his wrestling prowess. He countered Usman's takedown attempt by securing a body lock and tightening his grip, effectively neutralizing Usman's underhook. This aggressive pressure forced Usman to loosen his underhook, creating an opportunity for Edwards to secure an outside trip, almost buckling Usman's knee in the process.
Edwards' defensive wrestling is equally impressive. His primary strategy is to position himself with his back to the fence, widening his stance to prevent double-legs. From this position, he focuses on fighting hands, utilizing a variety of techniques to stuff single-legs, including pushing the head to the outside or down to the mat.
His exceptional head position is crucial to his defensive success. When opponents pressure him into the clinch, he uses his hips to maintain distance, preventing them from securing a takedown. He then presses his forehead into his opponent's jaw, neutralizing forward momentum and gaining control of their posture. This strong head position often allows him to angle off or transition back to his devastating clinch elbows.
In his third fight with Usman, Edwards effectively countered Usman's takedown attempts by fighting hands two-on-one. He isolated Usman's inside arm, preventing him from securing a double-leg. By limiting Usman's grip, Edwards disrupted Usman's ability to run the pipe effectively, elevate a caught leg, or transition to a double off. This strategic control often forced Usman to abandon his takedown attempts, opting instead for an upper-body clinch, which Edwards countered with his dominant head position and elbow strikes.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:
Edwards' control game from top position heavily revolves around securing the back, reflecting his two out of three career submission victories via rear-naked choke. He has consistently attempted this hold inside the Octagon, finally securing it against Albert Tumenov.
After winning the first two rounds through top control, Edwards dominated the third round against Tumenov. Despite being fatigued, he managed to pull Tumenov to the mat, securing a seat belt grip from the back. While he was initially at risk of falling off Tumenov's back, he strategically flipped the script by transitioning to a submission attack instead of focusing on position.
He expertly secured the rear-naked choke, forcing Tumenov to prioritize escaping the choke over regaining position. This decisive move resulted in Edwards' first Octagon submission victory.
Edwards is adept at utilizing two-on-one wrist control from top position, inflicting damage on his opponents. If they attempt to force a stand-up, he smoothly transitions to a back take, creating a difficult situation for them to escape.
Conclusion:
Edwards, at the peak of his physical and tactical prowess at 32 years old, is riding a formidable win streak. A successful title defence against Muhammad will set him up for exciting challenges against the next generation of Welterweight talent, including Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry, and potentially a "super fight" against Islam Makhachev.