Leon "Rocky" Edwards is leaving no stone unturned as he prepares for his upcoming UFC welterweight title defence against Belal Muhammad. The reigning champion has enlisted the help of a sleep specialist to adjust his body clock to the unusual start time of his fight, set for approximately 5am UK time.
The highly anticipated bout will headline UFC 304 at Manchester’s new Co-op Live Arena on July 27. Despite being held in England, the event’s schedule has been adjusted to cater to American audiences, with the first prelim starting at 11pm UK time and the main card kicking off at 3am. This late-night timeline is a significant departure from the typical 11pm main event start time that British MMA fans are accustomed to.
In an interview with talkSPORT Drive’s Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent, Edwards shared his initial reaction to the unconventional fight schedule. "At the start, I was bit like 'Oh, why is it that time?'" Edwards admitted. However, he quickly adapted by seeking professional help. "I've brought in a specialist in sleep and they've given me a plan of how it will work."
The sleep specialist's plan involves gradually shifting Edwards' daily routine to align with the fight's late start time. "I thought I'd have to train at 5am in the morning every day straight away but they said basically 'Six weeks out we'll start switching your body clock and training'," Edwards explained.
The process includes adjusting his training sessions incrementally. "So my evening session will now become my first session, so at 5pm I'll do my first session and then I'll train again at midnight. And then each week I'll move both sessions forward an hour to adjust to the time so I'll sleep later and train later," he elaborated.
This strategic approach aims to ensure that Edwards will be at peak performance when he steps into the octagon in the early hours of the morning.
The fight holds additional significance given the history between Edwards and Muhammad. Their last encounter in March 2021 at UFC Fight Night 187 in Las Vegas ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke from Edwards that rendered Muhammad unable to continue. This rematch offers both fighters a chance to settle the score and for Edwards, an opportunity to solidify his reign as the welterweight champion.
As the fight approaches, all eyes will be on Edwards to see if his meticulous preparation, including his innovative approach to adjusting his sleep schedule, will give him the edge he needs to defend his title successfully against a formidable opponent in Belal Muhammad.
Jamaica’s Tyrece Thompson claims super heavyweight title at 2024 IMMAF Pan American Championships
Jamaica's Tyrece Thompson secured a landmark victory on Saturday night, winning the Super Heavyweight Division at the 2024 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Pan American Championships held in Monterrey, Mexico. The week-long event, running from August 30 to September 7, showcased some of the top amateur mixed martial arts talents from across the Americas.
Thompson delivered an impressive performance in the final, defeating Guyana’s John Campayne to clinch Jamaica's first ever gold medal. Campayne, who put up a strong fight, took home the silver medal. Meanwhile, the bronze medals were shared by Guyana’s Lyndon Fung and the USA’s Anthony Alcala.
Thompson’s triumph is a major achievement for Jamaica and its growing presence in the MMA world, as the country continues to produce elite athletes in various combat sports disciplines. His victory at the IMMAF Pan American Championships is expected to further boost the development of MMA in Jamaica.
In other divisions, the Flyweight category saw Rocklyne Cornwall of Trinidad and Tobago sharing the bronze medal with Mexico’s Jorge Cobos Marin. Peru’s Jose Ayquipa won gold, while David Portilla of Colombia claimed silver. Guyana's Ezekiel Persaud earned a silver medal in the Strawweight Division, which was won by Jonatha Abad Hernandez Gonzales of Colombia.
The IMMAF Pan American Championships served as a platform to highlight emerging talent from the region, with athletes from countries like Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, and the USA putting on impressive performances. As the sport of MMA continues to grow across the Caribbean and Latin America, this event showcased the depth of talent and the bright future for these athletes.
With his victory, Thompson now joins the ranks of top amateur MMA fighters in the region, and his success at the Pan American Championships marks another milestone in his promising career.
Matthew Colqhoun claims fourth Pan American Combat Sambo title in Brazil
Jamaican combat sports athlete Matthew Colqhoun made a triumphant return to the international stage, capturing his fourth Pan American Combat Sambo title at the Pan American Sambo and Combat Sambo Championships held in Brazil from August 23-25. Competing in the 88 kg men’s Combat Sambo category, Colqhoun overcame fierce competition to secure the gold medal, reaffirming his status as one of the top athletes in the sport.
Colqhoun, who had taken a break from combat sports to focus on other aspects of his life, expressed his joy and renewed passion for competition after his victory. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, he shared the emotions that led him back to the sport and the fulfilment of representing Jamaica on such a significant stage.
"I have been away from combat sport for a little while, I felt I really needed a break to focus on other things and aspects in my life," Colqhoun wrote. "Recently I got the opportunity to represent Jamaica in the Pan American Sambo and Combat Sambo Championships which was held in Brazil over the past weekend. The atmosphere, energy, and experience of this event really lit a fire inside of me, reminding me of the excitement and adrenaline that competitive sport gives you."
Entering the competition with no expectations beyond enjoying the moment and doing his best, Colqhoun’s journey culminated in a gold medal match where he emerged victorious. His win not only marked a personal achievement but also a proud moment for Jamaica, as he added another gold to his collection.
"I went there with no expectations other than to enjoy the moment and to do my best. By the end of the competition, I worked myself into the finals, which I won gold for my country," he continued. "The Most High is just so amazing. Thanks go out to @sambo_fias for organizing this event, and thanks to @jamaicasambojscsf for selecting me to represent my country, and to @jamaicaolympic for their support. This is my 4th Gold Medal in the Pan American Games."
Colqhoun's victory places him atop the podium once again, with Erwin Brad Calderon Vaca from Ecuador taking the silver medal, and Juan Pablo Doti from Uruguay and Jose Molina from Honduras sharing the bronze.
The Jamaican's return to combat sports has reinvigorated his passion for competition, and his success in Brazil serves as a reminder of his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft. With four Pan American titles under his belt, Colqhoun continues to be a formidable force in the world of Combat Sambo, proudly flying the Jamaican flag on the international stage.\
New Champion: Muhammad strikes Welterweight gold after dominant win over Edwards in UFC 304 main event
A new UFC Welterweight champion has been crowned as Belal Muhammad dethroned Leon Edwards in a stunning unanimous decision victory in the main event of UFC 304 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England on Saturday.
In the highly anticipated rematch, Muhammad, now the first ever Palestinian-American UFC champion, put on a wrestling clinic to neutralize Leon Edwards’ striking and secure a unanimous decision win.
The judges scored the bout 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, all in favor of Muhammad.
Muhammad’s game plan was clear from the outset as he repeatedly took Edwards down and controlled him on the ground.
Despite Edwards’ attempts to escape and land strikes from the bottom, Muhammad’s grappling prowess and improved striking kept the champion at bay throughout the 25 minutes.
“It sounds like a lot of the people booing have a lot of tears in their eyes right now,” an emotional Muhammad said in his post-fight interview.
“I’ve worked my whole life for this moment, and I’m just getting started,” he added.
Edwards put his lackluster performance down to fatigue in the week leading up to the fight.
“No surprises. My body just felt tired from round one. Congrats to Belal. He got the job done and we’ll get it back again,” Edwards said after the fight.
The Kingston-born southpaw was attempting to successfully defend his title for the third time.
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