The word Humble and the name Leon Edwards go hand in hand. Sitting on the top of the welterweight division at the moment, Birmingham’s own ‘Rocky’ has had a life quite similar to the Rocky movies. Despite being labeled as one of the unluckiest fighters in the past, Leon has silenced all his doubters through his in-cage work.
Edwards didn’t have an easy way to attain the UFC gold. The 31-year-old had to collect a 10-fight win streak before being given a shot at the title. Humble beginnings and hardships are what have formed Leon into the fighter that he is today, in and out of the cage.
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Born out of poverty in Jamaica, Leon had a tough upbringing. At the ripe age of nine, he moved to Birmingham, England. However, he lost his father in a shooting incident when he was just 13. This led to Edwards moving down a spiral hole full of trauma and suffering, eventually getting involved in crime and drug activities.
Meaning behind Leon Edwards’ tattoos
Like many athletes, the Birmingham resident has got quite a few tattoos on himself. From what appears he only has tattoos on his upper body. Based on the number of tattoos he has so far, it is very evident ‘Rocky’ is fond of them and what they stand for.
All in all, Leon appears to have 4 tattoos on his body. One on his left shoulder and one on his left ribcage The other two are on his right pec and on his left forearm. Just like every tattoo has a story behind it, Leon is no alien to the concept.
His left shoulder reads “Death Before Dishonour” in ink. This phrase means that one would rather die than dishonoring or betraying their country. It stands true for those who fight and defend their country in times of crisis. This tattoo makes a lot of sense for Leon, based on his rough upbringing.
While we don’t know how much religious the Jamaican-born is, he sure does seem to have a “nun” imprinted on his left pec. While it would have been easy to conclude that the lady in question could be someone from his past, it makes more sense to recognize her as a sign of religion. And that is because of the two lines of prayer visible on top of her in tiny letters. Not to mention, tears appear to roll down her cheeks.
The easiest one to identify is the tattoo that found its way onto his left shoulder. It reads his last name ‘Edwards’. And each alphabet of the word is written one below another, moving from top to bottom. This tattoo signifies the Edwards family tree and how his ancestors’ hard work has paved the way for his family to be where they are.
The one on his left forearm is the most difficult to view and understand. Not only is the tattoo ‘too complex’ to wrap one’s head around, but the skin complexion also makes it a tad bit difficult to know what it really is. Based on his previous tattoos, we wouldn’t be surprised if his Jamaican roots have something to do with it.
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