5 current UFC fighters who have an inspiring rags-to-riches story

#4. Leon Edwards (UFC welterweight)

Leon Edwards is one of the best 170-pound fighters in the UFC today and has the potential to become the welterweight king one day. 'Rocky' recently earned arguably the biggest victory of his career when he defeated UFC legend Nate Diaz via unanimous decision at UFC 263. The Birmingham fighter is now possibly one win away from a shot at UFC gold.

But Edwards' journey up to this point has not been a bed full of roses. 'Rocky' spent the early years of his life surrounded by crime and drugs in Kingston, Jamaica. Having a gang leader for a father also did not help things much:

"In Jamaica, the neighborhood that I was brought up in, it was a gang-infested neighborhood. Shootouts, drugs... It's weird to be normalized to hearing gunshots. But my dad was the gang leader... That's the reason why I came to the UK, to give money to Jamaica and to support the gangs," revealed Leon Edwards.

A move to England did not turn out to be such a good thing either as 'Rocky' got involved with the local gangs of Birmingham. When he was just 14, Edwards received the news of his father being murdered in a nightclub in London.

A few years later, the Jamaican-born fighter discovered MMA and decided to dedicate his life towards it. The MMA lifestyle helped him leave his old life behind in the hope for a better future.

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#3. Charles Oliveira (UFC lightweight)

Charles Oliveira's journey from the favelas of Brazil to the UFC's lightweight throne is nothing short of a miracle. At a young age, Oliveira was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and heart murmurs. The doctors even said that he might not be able to walk again and may need to depend on a wheelchair.

After undergoing treatment for several years, Olveira was cleared from the hospital but was advised not to do any heavy physical activity. But 'do Bronx' was not one to listen as he picked up soccer mere months after getting out of the hospital.

As a kid, 'do Bronx' used to help his mother sell cheese salads to make ends meet. At the age of 12, Oliveira was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu and thus, started his journey to become a mixed martial artist.

This journey led him to the UFC. After spending more than a decade in the promotion, 'Do Bronx' finally got his hands on the coveted lightweight title. His title win came when he defeated Michael Chandler at UFC 262.