Din Thomas believes that Leon Edwards doesn`t possess the true grit of a fighter.
Last Saturday at UFC London, Edwards faced Sean Brady in the main event, and it was a tough night for the former champion. Brady controlled most of the fight and became the first person to defeat Edwards by submission, using a mounted guillotine choke in the fourth round. Thomas, who was in Brady`s corner, knew the fight`s outcome much earlier. He pinpointed the moment Edwards attempted a takedown in the third round as the turning point.
“When Edwards tried for that takedown, I turned to John Marquez, the head coach, and asked, ‘Did he just try to take Sean down?’” Thomas recounted on Anthony Smith’s podcast. “After Edwards got reversed, John said, ‘We could just relax and take our time now, we don’t need to rush.’ We realized then that the fight was essentially over. That takedown attempt from Leon showed he didn`t want to continue fighting, and that was it. It was unbelievable to witness.”
This was a significant setback for Edwards, marking his first losing streak and pushing him further from title contention. Adding to the disappointment was the manner of these losses. Thomas suggests Edwards`s current losing streak exposes a difficult truth about the former champion: he might lack the necessary fighting spirit.
“I don’t want to disrespect Leon, because I still think he’s incredibly skilled, physically gifted, and was a deserving champion,” Thomas clarified. “He’s a great fighter, easily top-five caliber. However, I question if Leon truly has the heart of a fighter in the same vein as guys like Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, who would fight anyone, anywhere. I see him more as an athlete and performer. He’s undoubtedly talented and probably dominates in training. But when it’s time for a real fight under the spotlight, I believe that despite not being a true fighter at heart, he was still exceptionally skilled and successful.”
Thomas`s assessment is critical, but it’s not the first time he’s made such observations about Edwards. During Edwards’ second fight against Kamaru Usman, Thomas, commentating for the UFC broadcast, noted Edwards appeared mentally defeated just before Edwards achieved a stunning last-minute knockout comeback. This time, no such comeback occurred, and with more evidence, Thomas believes even Edwards’s own team recognizes the truth in his words.
“I believe even his team sometimes sees that Leon isn`t a true fighter at heart,” Thomas stated. “And that’s why they are protective of him, urging him on with phrases like, ‘Come on, son! Don’t let him bully you!’ They understand that if he had more inherent toughness and resilience, he’d likely still be champion.”
“And honestly, I understand this feeling personally. That’s how I recognize it because I lacked it myself. When fights became tough for me, I would resort to pulling guard, too. I’d attempt takedowns and then pull guard, so I recognize the signs.”
