It’s been a Rocky few weeks for the former UFC champion, who has a new opponent and a drastically different fight style to prepare for.
Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards was originally meant to face Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC Fight Night London on March 22.
However, after the slick Australian boxer was moved into a title fight at UFC 315, American wrestler Sean Brady steps in as his replacement – Edwards’ brother has now revealed how it all went down.
Fabian Edwards reveals Leon’s immediate reaction to UFC London change
Speaking with Jake Noecker via Home of Fight, Fabian Edwards revealed that Leon’s immediate reaction to the change of opponent was one of ‘So what’ – as in, so what, different name, same outcome.
“Honestly, when we had the change-up, he just said ‘F— it, I think I’m the best in the world so why does it matter who I fight?’… And that mentality’s shown me like ‘Okay, let’s go’ – he’s looking good.
“The reaction was kind of like ‘If you can’t do anything about it, then what’s next?’ – all we cared about was ‘Is the show still on, yes, can we find an opponent, yes, okay then f— it, let’s go’… He’s been preparing hard, so he didn’t want his hard work to go to waste.”
Fans widely expect this new welterweight scrap to play out as your typical striker vs grappler matchup, although Fabian believes that the fight goes whatever and whichever way ‘Rocky’ wants.
“I think it goes down [depending on] how Leon fights and however Leon chooses to [fight], honestly… He’ll be looking to get a win back and get himself back in title contention.
“That’s why he’s looking forward to this and it doesn’t matter who’s in front of him, he’s been fighting wrestlers for like the last six years now so it’s no different.”
Leon Edwards vs Sean Brady headlines a ‘stacked’ UFC London card
It’s a shame that we’re not getting Edwards vs Della Maddalena as expected; however, the incoming matchup with Brady remains a solid way to cap off what should be a stellar night of UFC action.
In the co-main event, former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz faces 11-1 Carlos Ulberg in a bout that could very well determine who’s next for the winner of Alex Pereira vs Magomedov Ankalaev at UFC 313.
Popular veterans Kevin Holland and Gunnar Nelson are also set to throwdown, with the Fight Night card otherwise set to feature a whole host of British and Irish talent.
Notably, Molly McCann returns to action against Istela Nunes, while Nathaniel Wood takes on flashy French prospect Morgan Charriere.
UFC London will also include the likes of Jai Herbert, Lone’er Kavanagh, Caolan Loughran, Mick Parkin, Christian Leroy Duncan, Shauna Bannon, and Jordan Vucenic.
UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs Brady goes down live from the O2 Arena in London, England, on Saturday, March 22.