Fabian Edwards is planning to open an MMA gym with his brother Leon as a way of expressing gratitude to the sport that significantly changed their lives.
Born in Jamaica, Edwards spent his early childhood in a small wooden house with one bedroom. At the ages of seven and nine, Fabian and Leon, respectively, relocated to England with their family.
Growing up in London, the brothers faced hardship after their father was tragically murdered in a nightclub in 2004. Subsequently, the family moved to Birmingham.
Leon, a former UFC champion, began his MMA journey at 17, with his younger brother Fabian following suit five years later.
Fabian, who is just a year younger than Leon, acknowledges that MMA rescued them from potentially getting involved in crime in the tough environment of Birmingham.
Therefore, should he be victorious in the $500,000 Professional Fighters League tournament, which consists of three stages, his primary goal is to invest in establishing his own gym.
Edwards, aged 32, mentioned to SunSport, “I have a house already, so I`d likely use the winnings to pay off the mortgage and make some wise investments.”
“Opening a gym with my brother is definitely on my mind. It`s not about splurging on luxury items like fast cars.”
“My focus is on securing our future, life after fighting. I see fighting as a means to ensure a stable future.”
Reflecting on his priorities, Edwards admitted his spending approach would have been quite different earlier in his career.
He chuckled, “Oh, definitely! If I were 25, I`d probably forget about the house and just go on a massive shopping spree!”
“But now at 32, and with three children, I am fortunate to be where I am. I need to be thoughtful about managing my earnings and using them wisely.”
Having been guided onto a positive path through MMA, Edwards is passionate about offering similar direction to at-risk youth in Birmingham.
He expressed, “I am eager to give back to Birmingham, especially to young people who are in situations like I was growing up. It’s definitely a path we intend to take.”
“I often tell people, even if you don`t become a professional athlete, the discipline you gain from this sport is invaluable.”
“Even if I were to stop competing in MMA tomorrow, the mindset it has instilled in me – the understanding that you have to work diligently and be disciplined to achieve anything – is something I cherish.”
“I believe many young individuals could benefit from this mindset, whether they pursue fighting or use it as a motivation in other areas of life.”
Edwards is set to face Impa Kasanganay, a former PFL light-heavyweight champion aged 31, next Friday in Florida.
This match is the first in a potentially three-fight tournament where the winner is awarded a $500,000 bonus.
Edwards, confronting one of the tournament favorites, stated, “Why not face the strongest contender right away, instead of hoping to avoid him?”
“That`s not my mentality. I prefer to challenge the toughest opponent in the tournament. We will take it from there.”
