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Leon Edwards

Welterweight · REAL v1.0 (registered) #8; v1.1 (shadow) #6

Descriptive profile. The resume rank is what has been earned; these statistics are context, not a prediction. A test on Oct 20, 2026 found that career statistics add nothing reliable to age, layoff and experience as predictors of the next result (experiments/REGISTER.md, EXP-2026-10-20-14).

Weight band 8-8: the 10th to 90th percentile of his position across weight vectors drawn near the 70/30 weights (the position does not depend on the weights). Rating 1,705, deviation 119: measured from 20 UFC bouts; a one-bout newcomer sits near 290.

Age 35 (born 1991-08-25) · Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) · Reach 74 in (188 cm) · Stance Southpaw · 351 days since last bout (2025-11-15) · Last five 2-3 · Streak L3

Why he is ranked here

Rating 1,705 is the division's 8th highest of 76 board fighters; the ledger stands at +3.5 (+4.5 from quality wins, less 1.0 for other losses outside the top 5; losses count for three years); 8 quality wins in 15 years, 4 over top-10 opponents, which makes him entrenched; form penalty 0.15 for a 2-3 last five. Score +0.50 = +0.43 (rating term, 70% weight) +0.22 (ledger term, 30% weight) -0.15 (form penalty); score order put him at #7; the head-to-head rule (the winner of the most recent meeting within three years moves directly above the loser when ranked at most three places behind, six within a year) placed him #8.

TermValueDetail
Score+0.5070% rating term + 30% ledger term - form penalty
Rating term+0.43resume rating 1,705, scaled against the division's interdecile range
Ledger term+0.22quality ledger +3.5: +4.5 QW +0.0 proof -0.0 blowout -1.0 weak
Form penalty0.15last five 2-3
Quality wins, 15 years84 over top-10 opponents, 7 over top-15; entrenched
Placementscore order #7; head-to-head -> #8v1.0 (registered)
Shadow board v1.1#6score +0.54; score order #6

Rules, weights and worked examples: methodology.

Last ten bouts

DateEventOpponentOpp. official rankResultMethodRoundModel p
2025-11-15UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs. MakhachevCarlos Prates#9LKO/TKO2 (1:28)49%
2025-03-22UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. BradySean Brady#5Lsubmission4 (1:39)43%
2024-07-27UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 (title)Belal Muhammad#2Lunanimous decision5 (5:00)43%
2023-12-16UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington (title)Colby Covington#3Wunanimous decision5 (5:00)41%
2023-03-18UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 (title)Kamaru Usman#1Wmajority decision5 (5:00)22%
2022-08-20UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards (title)Kamaru UsmanCWKO/TKO5 (4:04)14%
2021-06-12UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori 2Nate DiazunrankedWunanimous decision5 (5:00)53%
2021-03-13UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. MuhammadBelal Muhammad#13NCno contest2 (0:18)53%
2019-07-20UFC Fight Night: Dos Anjos vs. EdwardsRafael Dos Anjos#4Wunanimous decision5 (5:00)38%
2019-03-16UFC Fight Night: Till vs. MasvidalGunnar Nelson#13Wsplit decision3 (5:00)59%

Opp. official rank = the UFC media-panel rank of the opponent on the date (C champion, #1 to #15, unranked; n/a before Feb 2013 or where no official board existed). Model p = the predictive model's pre-fight win chance for him (frozen performance-adjusted Elo; bouts before 2020 were in its tuning sample). Linked opponents have a profile.

Career statistics

Through 2026-10-31, UFC bouts only. Percentile = share of the 76 board fighters at Welterweight at or below this value; high is a position in the division, not a verdict.

Output
Significant strikes landed per minute2.60(16th percentile at Welterweight)
Significant strike accuracy54%(82nd percentile at Welterweight)
Knockdowns scored per 15 minutes0.22(45th percentile at Welterweight)
Share of wins by finish29%(15th percentile at Welterweight)
Defence and damage
Significant strikes absorbed per minute2.44(20th percentile at Welterweight)
Significant strike defence53%(47th percentile at Welterweight)
Knockdowns suffered per 15 minutes0.09(45th percentile at Welterweight)
Significant strikes absorbed, career819(88th percentile at Welterweight)
KO/TKO losses1 (last 2025-11-15, 351 days ago)(70th percentile at Welterweight)
Submission losses1(89th percentile at Welterweight)
KO/TKO losses per bout over 10 years, each weighted down by the finisher's danger0.021(41st percentile at Welterweight)
Grappling
Takedowns landed per 15 minutes1.25(59th percentile at Welterweight)
Takedown defence64%(41st percentile at Welterweight)
Share of cage time in control21%(63rd percentile at Welterweight)
Share of significant strikes landed in the clinch or on the ground24%(56th percentile at Welterweight)
Stylemixed (3.4 takedown attempts per 15 min; 21% control)
Career stage
Age35.2(72nd percentile at Welterweight)
Age at UFC debut23.2(5th percentile at Welterweight)
Years since UFC debut12.0(93rd percentile at Welterweight)
UFC bouts20(89th percentile at Welterweight)
Cage time, minutes336(96th percentile at Welterweight)
Bouts per year, last three years1.3(43rd percentile at Welterweight)
Days since last bout351(86th percentile at Welterweight)

Board position since Oct 2023

C24681020252026Oct 2023Oct 20262023-10-06: title holder, Welterweight2023-10-13: title holder, Welterweight2023-10-20: title holder, Welterweight2023-11-03: title holder, Welterweight2023-11-10: title holder, Welterweight2023-11-17: title holder, Welterweight2023-12-01: title holder, Welterweight2023-12-08: title holder, Welterweight2023-12-15: title holder, Welterweight2024-01-12: title holder, Welterweight2024-01-19: title holder, Welterweight2024-02-02: title holder, Welterweight2024-02-09: title holder, Welterweight2024-02-16: title holder, Welterweight2024-02-23: title holder, Welterweight2024-03-01: title holder, Welterweight2024-03-08: title holder, Welterweight2024-03-15: title holder, Welterweight2024-03-22: title holder, Welterweight2024-03-29: title holder, Welterweight2024-04-05: title holder, Welterweight2024-04-12: title holder, Welterweight2024-04-26: title holder, Welterweight2024-05-03: title holder, Welterweight2024-05-10: title holder, Welterweight2024-05-17: title holder, Welterweight2024-05-31: title holder, Welterweight2024-06-07: title holder, Welterweight2024-06-14: title holder, Welterweight2024-06-21: title holder, Welterweight2024-06-28: title holder, Welterweight2024-07-12: title holder, Welterweight2024-07-19: title holder, Welterweight2024-07-26: title holder, Welterweight2024-08-02: #3, Welterweight2024-08-09: #3, Welterweight2024-08-16: #3, Welterweight2024-08-23: #3, Welterweight2024-09-06: #3, Welterweight2024-09-13: #3, Welterweight2024-09-27: #3, Welterweight2024-10-04: #3, Welterweight2024-10-11: #3, Welterweight2024-10-18: #3, Welterweight2024-10-25: #2, Welterweight2024-11-01: #2, Welterweight2024-11-08: #1, Welterweight2024-11-15: #1, Welterweight2024-11-22: #1, Welterweight2024-12-06: #1, Welterweight2024-12-13: #1, Welterweight2025-01-10: #1, Welterweight2025-01-17: #1, Welterweight2025-01-31: #1, Welterweight2025-02-07: #1, Welterweight2025-02-14: #1, Welterweight2025-02-21: #1, Welterweight2025-02-28: #1, Welterweight2025-03-07: #1, Welterweight2025-03-14: #1, Welterweight2025-03-21: #1, Welterweight2025-03-28: #2, Welterweight2025-04-04: #2, Welterweight2025-04-11: #2, Welterweight2025-04-25: #2, Welterweight2025-05-02: #2, Welterweight2025-05-09: #2, Welterweight2025-05-16: #3, Welterweight2025-05-30: #3, Welterweight2025-06-06: #3, Welterweight2025-06-13: #3, Welterweight2025-06-20: #4, Welterweight2025-06-27: #4, Welterweight2025-07-11: #4, Welterweight2025-07-18: #4, Welterweight2025-07-25: #4, Welterweight2025-08-01: #4, Welterweight2025-08-08: #4, Welterweight2025-08-15: #4, Welterweight2025-08-22: #4, Welterweight2025-09-05: #4, Welterweight2025-09-12: #4, Welterweight2025-09-26: #4, Welterweight2025-10-03: #4, Welterweight2025-10-10: #4, Welterweight2025-10-17: #4, Welterweight2025-10-24: #4, Welterweight2025-10-31: #4, Welterweight2025-11-07: #4, Welterweight2025-11-14: #4, Welterweight2025-11-21: #10, Welterweight2025-12-05: #10, Welterweight2025-12-12: #10, Welterweight2026-01-23: #10, Welterweight2026-01-30: #10, Welterweight2026-02-06: #10, Welterweight2026-02-20: #10, Welterweight2026-02-27: #10, Welterweight2026-03-06: #10, Welterweight2026-03-13: #10, Welterweight2026-03-20: #10, Welterweight2026-03-27: #10, Welterweight2026-04-03: #10, Welterweight2026-04-10: #10, Welterweight2026-04-17: #10, Welterweight2026-04-24: #10, Welterweight2026-05-01: #10, Welterweight2026-05-08: #10, Welterweight2026-05-15: #9, Welterweight2026-05-29: #9, Welterweight2026-06-05: #8, Welterweight2026-06-13: #9, Welterweight2026-06-19: #9, Welterweight2026-06-26: #9, Welterweight2026-07-10: #9, Welterweight2026-07-17: #9, Welterweight2026-07-24: #8, Welterweight2026-07-31: #8, Welterweight2026-08-07: #8, Welterweight2026-08-14: #8, Welterweight2026-08-21: #8, Welterweight2026-08-28: #8, Welterweight2026-09-04: #8, Welterweight2026-09-11: #8, Welterweight2026-09-18: #8, Welterweight2026-09-25: #8, Welterweight2026-09-26: #8, Welterweight2026-10-03: #8, Welterweight2026-10-10: #8, Welterweight2026-10-17: #8, Welterweight2026-10-24: #8, Welterweight2026-10-31: #8, Welterweight#8

Position on the registered v1.0 board at each weekly snapshot (C = title holder or reserved, drawn at the top; lower is better).

Predictive rating by bout

1,4001,5001,6001,7001,80020172019202120232025Nov 2014Oct 20262014-11-08: 1,482 (L vs Claudio Silva)2015-04-11: 1,586 (W vs Seth Baczynski)2015-07-18: 1,590 (W vs Pawel Pawlak)2015-12-19: 1,524 (L vs Kamaru Usman)2016-05-08: 1,531 (W vs Dominic Waters)2016-10-08: 1,554 (W vs Albert Tumenov)2017-03-18: 1,614 (W vs Vicente Luque)2017-09-02: 1,616 (W vs Bryan Barberena)2018-03-17: 1,657 (W vs Peter Sobotta)2018-06-23: 1,677 (W vs Donald Cerrone)2019-03-16: 1,691 (W vs Gunnar Nelson)2019-07-20: 1,726 (W vs Rafael Dos Anjos)2021-06-12: 1,656 (W vs Nate Diaz)2022-08-20: 1,696 (W vs Kamaru Usman)2023-03-18: 1,740 (W vs Kamaru Usman)2023-12-16: 1,766 (W vs Colby Covington)2024-07-27: 1,747 (L vs Belal Muhammad)2025-03-22: 1,708 (L vs Sean Brady)2025-11-15: 1,688 (L vs Carlos Prates)1,688

Rating after each UFC bout from the frozen predictive model (performance-adjusted Elo, data/processed/elo_history.csv; a debut starts at 1,500). The resume rating's history is not stored, so this is the predictive line, which is a different number from the resume rating in the header.

Trajectory

Recent performances run about 101 points behind the rating: fighters this age typically run 44 points behind their rating, and his own recent results put him a further 57 points behind.

ComponentPointsMeaning
Age component-44what fighters aged 35.2 typically run relative to their rating (population curve, all UFC bouts since 2011)
Own recent results-57his recency-weighted mean and trend over 19 bouts, shrunk toward zero; trend -12 points a year
Combined-101the rating's likely distance from his current performance level, in rating points
Readingbehind ratingahead of, in line with (within 30 points), or behind the rating

Performance relative to the rating, by age

-1.0-0.5+0.0+0.5+1.022242628303234362014-11-08 (age 23.2): L vs Claudio Silva, residual -0.032015-04-11 (age 23.6): W vs Seth Baczynski, residual +0.602015-07-18 (age 23.9): W vs Pawel Pawlak, residual +0.222015-12-19 (age 24.3): L vs Kamaru Usman, residual -0.252016-05-08 (age 24.7): W vs Dominic Waters, residual +0.182016-10-08 (age 25.1): W vs Albert Tumenov, residual +0.542017-03-18 (age 25.6): W vs Vicente Luque, residual +0.242017-09-02 (age 26.0): W vs Bryan Barberena, residual -0.022018-03-17 (age 26.6): W vs Peter Sobotta, residual +0.392018-06-23 (age 26.8): W vs Donald Cerrone, residual +0.322019-03-16 (age 27.6): W vs Gunnar Nelson, residual +0.162019-07-20 (age 27.9): W vs Rafael Dos Anjos, residual +0.482021-06-12 (age 29.8): W vs Nate Diaz, residual +0.312022-08-20 (age 31.0): W vs Kamaru Usman, residual +0.752023-03-18 (age 31.6): W vs Kamaru Usman, residual +0.292023-12-16 (age 32.3): W vs Colby Covington, residual +0.282024-07-27 (age 32.9): L vs Belal Muhammad, residual -0.292025-03-22 (age 33.6): L vs Sean Brady, residual -0.652025-11-15 (age 34.2): L vs Carlos Prates, residual -0.62-0.15

Each dot is one decided UFC bout at his age then: the performance score minus the rating's expectation, on the score's own scale from -1 to +1 (filled = win, hollow = loss; above zero is better than the rating implied; a finish as a slight favourite is about +0.45). The dashed line is the population curve for all fighters; the solid line is this fighter's own fitted level and trend as of the data date, weighted toward recent bouts. One unit sustained over many bouts corresponds to about 695 rating points; a single bout's residual is noisy.

Held-out evidence (walk-forward 2016 to 2026, EXP-2026-10-21-01): the age curve held in every test year; the individual component is a weak signal (correlation 0.06 with the next bout's residual; among fighters aged 33 or over, the lowest predicted quartile won 38% of next bouts against 53% expected, the highest 48% against 52%) and adds nothing to bout prediction beyond the shadow model. No board uses any of it: the rankings answer who has earned the place, not who wins next (EXP-2026-10-20-09). Method: src/mmalab/decline.py; settings: config/decline.yaml (expectation from the resume rating; one unit of residual is about 695 rating points).

Context flags

Descriptive only. Each line is a population fact about fighters like him, not a forecast for him; the register entries hold the measurements.

REAL v1.0 (registered method) · build c166ee8 · data through 2026-10-31 · page built 2026-11-06 · changelog. Independent fan research project built on public UFCStats data. Not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by UFC, Zuffa, LLC, TKO Group Holdings, or any athlete. All trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to identify athletes and events.