Former UFC and WEC veteran Brad Pickett, now a prominent coach at Great Britain Top Team, recently shared his perspective on Leon Edwards‘ current challenges. Leon Edwards, the former UFC welterweight champion, has faced a difficult stretch, losing his title to Belal Muhammad in July 2024 and suffering a submission defeat to Sean Brady at UFC London in March 2025.
Coach Brad Pickett’s Advice to Leon Edwards
For the first time in his career, Leon Edwards is on a two-fight losing streak, prompting discussions about how he can regain his footing. Speaking candidly with LowKickMMA’s Tim Wheaton courtesy of NetBet UFC Betting, Pickett emphasized the importance of rediscovering motivation.
“He needs to find a different ‘why,’” Pickett explained. “Why are you going to get back out there? Why do you want to train again? Before, it was to be number one in the world. Now, he needs a new reason to reignite that hunger.”
Brad Pickett acknowledged that comfort can sometimes hinder growth and suggested that Edwards might benefit from stepping out of his familiar environment. “Sometimes, when you’re too comfortable, it’s easy to lose that edge,” he said. I’d advise him to go somewhere else for a fight camp, maybe even train at American Top Team or another gym where he can get different looks and push himself in new ways.
Drawing from his own coaching philosophy, Pickett highlighted the value of discomfort in reigniting an athlete’s competitive drive. “Taking yourself out of your day-to-day comforts can make you hungry again,” he noted. “If I were coaching him, I’d say let’s go somewhere new, bring in fresh training partners, or even just change the scenery. That shift could make all the difference.”
Pickett also expressed confidence in Edwards’ abilities, emphasizing that the former champion remains a world-class fighter despite recent setbacks. “Leon is still one of the best,” he said. “He just needs to find that spark again.” Whether through a change in training environment or a renewed sense of purpose, the path forward for Edwards will require both mental and physical adjustments.
