Leon Edwards’ first professional loss was due to an illegal knee back in 2012

The UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards, suffered his first loss in MMA a very unfortunate way.

This was a significant setback for Edwards back in the day.

Edwards has been undefeated since 2016 and boasts a 10-win streak, defeating many tough contenders such as Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Gunnar Nelson, and Rafael dos Anjos.

He has an MMA record consisting of 20 wins, 3 losses and 1 no contest. ‘Rocky’ was last defeated in 2015 when he faced Kamaru Usman for the first time.

It is interesting to note that not many people know about Edwards’ first loss, which was via disqualification.

During his third MMA bout against Delroy McDowell at an event in Leicester, England, in 2012, Edwards was dominant and performed well. However, in the middle of the third round, he delivered an illegal knee that landed straight on McDowell’s head while he was still grounded.

This caused McDowell to drop on the canvas and unable to continue, resulting in Edwards’ first loss.

Although this type of loss is avoidable, it is crucial for athletes to follow the rules and perform professionally.

Leon Edwards is now set to defend his title for the first time against Kamaru Usman. He defeated Usman in August 2022 with a fifth-round knockout. Fans have been demanding an immediate rematch, and the two will headline UFC 286 on March 18 at the O2 Arena in London, England.

Edwards’ coach, Joby Clayton, spoke about fighting in front of a supportive crowd:

“Danger! This is straight danger. I think having the title defense in England is very special. It’s very special for Leon himself, but it’s also special for UK MMA. It’s going to lift and inspire so many young people and Leon already inspires so many young people about, but I feel that this is going to elevate it even more.”