Stripper turned MMA star elated UFC champ accomplice beat rival after grisly taunts

There wasn’t a British blended martial arts fanatic on the market who wasn’t overjoyed to see Leon Edwards beat Colby Covington.

The UFC welterweight champion defended his title at UFC 296 after Covington tried to wind up Edwards with some darkish feedback about his late father. And Akonne Wanliss – who counts himself amongst Edwards’ coaching companions on the Renegade gymnasium in Birmingham – was extra happy than most at how issues panned out.

Former stripper Wanliss has his personal much-anticipated bout developing towards Sahil Siraj at Oktagon 54 on March 2, the place he’ll participate within the new Tipsport Gamechanger match. That being mentioned, his focus was totally on serving to Edwards enhance his UFC legacy towards Covington in December, a win that was all of the sweeter after the American’s “below the belt” feedback.

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‘Rocky’ let his feelings get the higher of him on the pre-fight press convention and lobbed a bottle of water at Covington after he mentioned: “I’m bringing you to the seventh layer of hell. We’ll say ‘what’s up’ to your dad while we’re there.”

Edwards, 32, has been open in regards to the struggles he is skilled after his father was shot outdoors a London nightclub when he was solely 13. He was raised by a single mom earlier than clinching UFC gold, and Wanliss could not have been happier for his comrade following his newest success.

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“I used to be by no means stunned, everybody at Renegade knew he was going to run by way of Colby, however the best way he did it was completely spectacular,” he told Daily Star Sport. It’s a fair assessment after Edwards effectively dominated the bout for 25 minutes, winning 49-46 on all three judges’ scorecards.

Wanliss continued: “We were just surprised at how shut down Colby was, especially after those comments which were so far below the belt. I could say many bad things about him, but he showed he was not a nice guy.

“Coming back into the gym, it was great to rub shoulders with him again and get back to sparring once again and just continue the energy. Renegade is on fire at the moment and has been for a long time.”

Wanliss – who has been in a relationship with viral adult content creator Daniella Hemsley – continues to train with Edwards in Birmingham. However, the man known as ‘The Jedi’ has since switched focus to his own upcoming clash against stoppage machine Siraj.

“Siraj is a knockout artist, who calls himself the ‘Prince’, but he will be calling me the ‘King’ after this fight,” he added of his opponent, who has collected seven of his 9 professional wins through KO/TKO. “I’m a 100% finisher over here; all he has is a left hand, a left kick, some sloppy jabs and no wrestling fighter whatsoever.

“I’d be extra frightened if he was an entire MMA fighter, who might throw photographs, grapple and do hundreds extra. I’m not taking him simply in any respect, however there will likely be a spherical one end from The Jedi and the Force will likely be unleashed as soon as once more.”

Wanliss will want that confidence – and The Force will not hurt his possibilities, both – as he goes about trying to win the Gamechanger match – to not point out the €1million (£850,000) grand prize. It all kicks off in Ostrava in a fortnight’s time, the place Edwards might have a hand in serving to channel the success of one other future champion from the Renegade steady.