Leon Edwards stole the show at UFC 278, but so did his coach Dave Lovell.
This past Saturday, Edwards (20-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) claimed the UFC welterweight title in dramatic fashion by knocking out Kamaru Usman late in the fifth round of a fight that he was losing on the scorecards. But on top of being down on points, Edwards didn’t inspire a comeback given his work rate and body language in the cage.
Lovell knew something was wrong with Edwards, which is why a tough speech in between rounds was badly needed.
“He lost the second round, he lost the third round, and that’s when the panic started to set for me,” Lovell told MMA Junkie as he recalled what was going through his mind in between rounds at UFC 278. “I knew I had to do something. His body language – he wouldn’t look me in the eye. He was slumping in his chair. He looked dejected.
“I was like, ‘This is not you, son. What is wrong?’ I don’t know what it was, call it Godly intervention, but I had to shake this kid out of his slump. We’re in a world title fight, and you’re f*cking looking sorry for yourself. You didn’t come this far, all this work put in over the last six, seven years, to come to this country, and you’re going to bow out like a lamb? You’re content seeing this fight out without giving it your all? So I knew I had to do something, and it just rolled out that way.”
Lovell’s corner work and talk in between rounds went viral online after the fight. It was clear his talk resonated with Edwards and helped him rally back to produce one of the biggest upsets in recent memory.
Lovell admits he’s not very familiar with social media, but did see the online reaction to his words. He’s happy that people liked it and hopes it can serve as an inspiration to others.
“Yeah, it’s got like over a million hits,” Lovell’s said. “If it inspires people, it can be a good thing. It was my inspiration to give Leon, but if people can take it, especially the youth of today can take it, that can inspire anyone in any walk of life. Stop feeling f*cking sorry for yourself and get out there and do it, then that’s great. That’s good for me. I’m happy.”
