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I spent 14 years as a scaffolder in Wolverhampton – now I’m training with Leon Edwards for my next fight at UFC London
Jai Herbert only started MMA when he was 24, but he’s now an established UFC fighter. The 36-year-old from Wolverhampton spent 14 years working as a scaffolder before pursing his dream as an MMA fighter. ‘The Black Country Banger’ trains with former UFC champion Leon Edwards@jai_herbert_mma - instagram He was won three of his UFC bouts, winning via unanimous decision in his last fightGetty Back when he was a part-time fighter, Herbert worked as a scaffolder during the day, but always made sure he had time for an MMA session once per night. Ultimately, his goal was to be an MMA champion, which he achieved in June 2019 by winning the Cage Warriors lightweight title. He has since joined the UFC and fought some of their biggest stars, including current UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and current No.10 ranked lightweight Renato Moicano. Although he lost both fights, Herbert (13-5-1) has now got back to winning ways and faces another huge challenge as he prepares for his next fight at UFC London. Herbert will take on American Chris Padilla (15-6) in a lightweight bout at UFC London on March 22 in the O2 Arena. Rising star Lone’er Kavanagh (8-0) has also been announced for the card as he aims to continue his unbeaten streak against Brazilian prospect Felipe dos Santos (8-2) in the flyweight division. Kavanagh left UFC President White gobsmacked in August last year after knocking out undefeated prospect An Tuan Ho. The headline act for the UFC’s return to London is yet to be announced, however, former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards revealed in November that he would be featuring in the main event. Speaking to talkSPORT.com in the summer of 2023, Herbert spoke with pride as he reflected on his years juggling two jobs. “Since I joined the UFC, I’ve quit my job. I just went full-time in MMA. I mean, it was really hard. When I look back now, I think to myself, ‘I don’t know how I did it some of the time,'” he said. Herbert worked as a scaffolder for 14 years@jai_herbert_mma - instagram Before joining the UFC, and is now preparing for his next fight against PadillaGetty “I’m telling you this was a graft. Getting up early hours, going scaffolding all day, and then coming back and training once a night and still getting to where I got to. “I mean, looking back at it, it was pretty f****** impressive. I’m not blowing my own trumpet, but it was hard work.” Of his last five fights, four of them have been in London, where he has won one bout against Kyle Nelson, drew another to Fares Ziam and lost the other two to Ludovit Klein and Topuria. He beat Rolando Bedova in his last UFC appearance in Abu Dhabi in August, securing a unanimous decision victory on the undercard of Umar Nurmagomedov vs Cory Sandhagen. However, losses don’t seem to bother Herbert as he insists it has been his attitude that has allowed him to succeed in the sport. “I believed in myself, and I wouldn’t stop,” he added. Edwards is a former UFC champion and trains with HerbertGetty He lost his title to Muhammad at UFC Manchester in JulyGetty “I’m a bit stubborn like that. I just thought, ‘I know I can get there, and I will.’ I hope people can look at that and see that you can still follow your dreams and you can do it how I did it. “At my age as well. I got into the UFC when I was 30/31 and I only started MMA when I was 24. It just goes to show, if you put your mind to something, and you really want it, you can go out and get it.” Molly McCann and Tom Aspinall’s sparring partner Mick Parkin are both confirmed to fight at UFC London in March. Jan Blachowicz vs Carlos Ulberg in the light heavyweight division has been the biggest fight announced to date. Birmingham’s Edwards is the No.1 ranked welterweight but hasn’t fought in White’s promotion since losing his title to the current champion, Belal Muhammad, at UFC Manchester in July. He became the proud owner of UFC’s 170lb strap for the first time after famously knocking out Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 in August 2022. ‘Rocky’ won the rematch seven months later, winning the five-round bout via decision before beating Colby Covington by the same method of victory at UFC 296. Edwards lost his title via unanimous-decision at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena to Muhammad, much to the disappointment of the home crowd who were forced to stay awake until after 5am to watch the bout. However, fans will not have to suffer another late night in London as the Fight Night card in March is expected to stick to UK timings.
Jai Herbert only started MMA when he was 24, but he’s now an established UFC fighter.
The 36-year-old from Wolverhampton spent 14 years working as a scaffolder before pursing his dream as an MMA fighter.
Back when he was a part-time fighter, Herbert worked as a scaffolder during the day, but always made sure he had time for an MMA session once per night.
Ultimately, his goal was to be an MMA champion, which he achieved in June 2019 by winning the Cage Warriors lightweight title.
He has since joined the UFC and fought some of their biggest stars, including current UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and current No.10 ranked lightweight Renato Moicano.
Although he lost both fights, Herbert (13-5-1) has now got back to winning ways and faces another huge challenge as he prepares for his next fight at UFC London.
Herbert will take on American Chris Padilla (15-6) in a lightweight bout at UFC London on March 22 in the O2 Arena.
Rising star Lone’er Kavanagh (8-0) has also been announced for the card as he aims to continue his unbeaten streak against Brazilian prospect Felipe dos Santos (8-2) in the flyweight division.
Kavanagh left UFC President White gobsmacked in August last year after knocking out undefeated prospect An Tuan Ho.
The headline act for the UFC’s return to London is yet to be announced, however, former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards revealed in November that he would be featuring in the main event.
Speaking to talkSPORT.com in the summer of 2023, Herbert spoke with pride as he reflected on his years juggling two jobs.
“Since I joined the UFC, I’ve quit my job. I just went full-time in MMA. I mean, it was really hard. When I look back now, I think to myself, ‘I don’t know how I did it some of the time,'” he said.
“I’m telling you this was a graft. Getting up early hours, going scaffolding all day, and then coming back and training once a night and still getting to where I got to.
“I mean, looking back at it, it was pretty f****** impressive. I’m not blowing my own trumpet, but it was hard work.”
Of his last five fights, four of them have been in London, where he has won one bout against Kyle Nelson, drew another to Fares Ziam and lost the other two to Ludovit Klein and Topuria.
He beat Rolando Bedova in his last UFC appearance in Abu Dhabi in August, securing a unanimous decision victory on the undercard of Umar Nurmagomedov vs Cory Sandhagen.
However, losses don’t seem to bother Herbert as he insists it has been his attitude that has allowed him to succeed in the sport.
“I believed in myself, and I wouldn’t stop,” he added.
“I’m a bit stubborn like that. I just thought, ‘I know I can get there, and I will.’ I hope people can look at that and see that you can still follow your dreams and you can do it how I did it.
“At my age as well. I got into the UFC when I was 30/31 and I only started MMA when I was 24. It just goes to show, if you put your mind to something, and you really want it, you can go out and get it.”
Molly McCann and Tom Aspinall’s sparring partner Mick Parkin are both confirmed to fight at UFC London in March.
Jan Blachowicz vs Carlos Ulberg in the light heavyweight division has been the biggest fight announced to date.
Birmingham’s Edwards is the No.1 ranked welterweight but hasn’t fought in White’s promotion since losing his title to the current champion, Belal Muhammad, at UFC Manchester in July.
He became the proud owner of UFC’s 170lb strap for the first time after famously knocking out Kamaru Usman at UFC 278 in August 2022.
‘Rocky’ won the rematch seven months later, winning the five-round bout via decision before beating Colby Covington by the same method of victory at UFC 296.
Edwards lost his title via unanimous-decision at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena to Muhammad, much to the disappointment of the home crowd who were forced to stay awake until after 5am to watch the bout.
However, fans will not have to suffer another late night in London as the Fight Night card in March is expected to stick to UK timings.
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