Christian Leroy Duncan admits ‘twice the pace’ UFC coaching making him a Renegade grasp
EXCLUSIVE: Rising UFC middleweight star Leroy Duncan has his best year in the cage and is poised for an even bigger 2026 after training with Leon and Fabian Edwards
It has been a case of TCB (Taking Care of Business) for ‘CLD’ (Christian Leroy Duncan) after his three-fight winning streak in 2025 forced Dana White to visit the ATM (Automated Teller Machine) on more than one occasion.
And the Gloucester middleweight, who has picked up $50,000 performance of the night bonuses in his last two fights, has credited Team Renegade MMA in Birmingham with helping to turn him into a VIP in the UFC. The gym is the home base for former welterweight champion Leon Edwards as well as his brother Fabian, who fights for the PFL middleweight title in March after winning a tournament earlier this year.
The duo have helped Duncan, who is 6-2 in the UFC, prepare for the rigours of the Octagon in the UK, rather than the Brit opting to train at one of the many mega gyms in America.
He said: “I’m doing the majority of my training at Renegade in Birmingham, the home of Leon Edwards and his brother Fabian.
“The level there with all these guys, yeah, it’s made me develop at twice the speed, especially going against and training with guys with that kind of experience.
“You’re learning from them and as much as they are fighters, they’re great relayers of information, so they’re good coaches in that sense as well.
“I’ve sped up my development by being there. Alongside my professionalism, everything has come together and it’s going to put me in a great position going forward.
“I would happily visit one of the big gyms in America, maybe have a short stint there, but I wouldn’t set up a base out there.
“I like the way that we have set up here, especially with the Renegade team and the guys there. It is very much a family unit. I like the way that we feed off and push each other.”
Having made his company debut at UFC 286 in London in March 2023, a show headlined by Leon’s successful title defence against Kamaru Usman, Duncan, 30, is now on the cusp of the 185lb rankings and is set for a big 2026.
He added: “It’s coming up to three years in the UFC now, which has gone by fast. The whole experience has been, so far, next level.
“I’ve definitely learnt a lot, especially in the early part of my career here. And that has set up things both outside and inside the cage, adjustments and progressions, that put me in a position to be able to perform [at my best].
“Going forward, I am excited to see how we approach things, what we can do and where we’re going to get to.”
