Dante Leon (martial artist)

Dante Leon
Born (1995-05-06) May 6, 1995 (age 29)[1]
Harrow, Ontario, Canada[1]
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight82.3 kg (181 lb; 12 st 13 lb)
DivisionMiddleweight -82.3 kg (181.4 lb)
Fighting out ofToledo, Ohio USA
Team
  • Adamas Jiu-Jitsu
  • Pedigo Submission Fighting[2]
    GFTeam
Teacher(s)Dean Hersche
RankBJJ black belt under Júlio César Pereira and Vitor Oliveira[1]
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Submission wrestling
ADCC World Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Nevada, USA Absolute
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Nevada, USA -77kg
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
World No-Gi Championship
Gold medal – first place 2022 California, USA -73.5 kg
Silver medal – second place 2021 California, USA -79.5 kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 California, USA -79.5 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 California, USA -79.5 kg
Pan American No-Gi Championship
Gold medal – first place 2023 Texas, USA -97.5 kg
Gold medal – first place 2018 New York, USA -79.5 kg
Gold medal – first place 2017 New York, USA -79.5 kg

Dante Leon (born May 6, 1995) is a Canadian grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor.

A multiple-time World and Pan No-Gi champion in the lower belts divisions, Leon is a two-time black belt IBJJF No-Gi World champion, three-time No-Gi Pan champion, American Nationals champion as well as a two-time ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship bronze medallist.

Early life

Leon was born on May 6, 1995, in Harrow, Essex County, Ontario, Canada.[1] He grew up playing ice hockey then was introduced to martial arts and boxing by his father when he was 6.[1][3] Leon started Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) in Detroit, Michigan, from the age of 12.[1][3] His first instructor was the late Dean Hersche.[1] As a blue belt Leon won the IBJJF World Juvenile Championship twice (2012, 2013) the IBJJF Pans Championship and the IBJJF Pans Juvenile Championship.[4]

After being promoted to purple belt Leon won the 2015 IBJJF Pans No-Gi Championship under the Gracie Humaitá/Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu team.[1][3] Leon then joined GFTeam under Abraham Marte and Vitor Oliveira. After getting his brown belt, he moved to Toledo, Ohio, to train full time.[1][3] As a brown belt Leon won the World No-Gi Championship as well as Pan No-Gi. In 2017 he won silver at the IBJJF World Championship.[4]

Black belt career

2017–2020

In June 2017, Leon was promoted to black belt by Júlio César Pereira and Oliveira,[1] that same year Leon won the American No-Gi Nationals and the IBJJF Pans No-Gi.[4] At the 2018 World No-Gi Championship, Leon won bronze after reaching the semi-finals before losing to Hugo Marques.[1] In 2019, he became black belt No-Gi World champion for the first time, after defeating Jaime Canuto 4x2 in the finals.[1]

Competing in the KASAI Elite Grappling Championships, Leon defeated Edwin Najmi via rear naked choke on April 6, 2019, during Kasai Pro 5.[1][5] On February 1, 2020, at Kasai Pro 7, Leon defeated Renato Canuto via points.[1][6]

2021–2022

In 2021, Leon finished second of No-Gi World after losing to Marques by referee decision in the final.[1] In October 2021, Leon announced he would be officially joining Pedigo Submission Fighting to compete under their banner.[2][7]

At the 2022 ADCC World Championship, Leon defeated Magid Hage and Mateusz Szczecinski before losing to Micael Galvão in the semi-finals.[1][8] He won the bronze medal match by defeating PJ Barch.[1][8] In 2022 Leon became No-Gi World champion for the second time after defeating Carlos Henrique 2 points 0 in the final.[1]

2023

On February 26, 2023, Leon won the middleweight division and the absolute division at the IBJJF Tampa International Open.[9] Leon was then booked to compete at Who's Number One 18: Meregali v Marinho on May 18, 2023, against Ruan Alvarenga.[10] Leon won the match, submitting Alvarenga with a rear-naked choke.[11] Leon competed in the IBJJF Indianapolis no gi Open on June 18, 2023, and won a gold medal in the medium-heavyweight division.[12]

Leon competed against Ethan Crelinsten for the vacant WNO lightweight title at Who's Number One 19 on August 10, 2023.[13] He won the match by submission and became the new WNO lightweight world champion.[14] Leon then entered the super-heavyweight division of the IBJJF No Gi Pan Championship 2023 on October 1, 2023, and won a gold medal.[15] Leon then won the no gi middleweight division at the IBJJF Nashville Fall Open 2023 on November 12, 2023.[16]

Leon represented Team Modolfo in the under 76kg division at AIGA Champions League Final 2023 on December 13 and 14.[17] He won his semi-final match by submission[18] and his final match by submission to help Team Modolfo win the tournament.[19] Leon was voted MVP of AIGA Season 2 as a result,[20] and later won 'Male Grappler of the Year (No Gi)' at the JitsMagazine BJJ Awards 2023.[21]

2024

Leon was booked to defend his WNO lightweight title against Diego 'Pato' Oliveira at Who's Number One 22 on February 9, 2024.[22] He was submitted with a heel hook and lost the title.[23]

Leon competed in the IBJJF No Gi Absolute Grand Prix on February 29, 2024.[24] He beat Elder Cruz in the opening round before losing to eventual champion Kaynan Duarte in the semi-final.[25] He then won a gold medal in the middleweight division and a silver medal in the absolute division at the IBJJF No Gi American National Championship 2024 on June 29, 2024.[26]

Leon was then invited to compete in the 2024 ADCC World Championship on August 17-18, 2024.[27] He lost on points to Elijah Dorsey in the opening round.[28] Leon returned in the men's absolute division, where he beat Michael Perez and Micael Galvão before losing to Kaynan Duarte in the semi-final. He then beat Giancarlo Bodoni in the third-place match to win a bronze medal.[29]

Leon faced Andy Varela at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 8 on October 10, 2024.[30] He won the match by submission. [31]

Leon competed against Ellis Younger at Polaris 30 on November 2, 2024.[32] He won the match by decision.[33]

Leon then signed a contract to compete for ONE Championship from 2024 onwards.[34] He made his debut against Bruno Pucci at ONE Fight Night 26 on December 6, 2024 and won the match by submission.[35]

Grappling competitive summary

Main Achievements as black belt:[1]

  • IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2019/2022)
  • IBJJF Pans No-Gi Champion (2019/2022)
  • Kasai 170 lbs Champion (2020)
  • IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi Champion (2017)
  • 2nd place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2021)
  • 3rd place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2018)
  • 3rd place IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi (2017[a])

Main Achievements as coloured belt:[1]

  • IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2016 brown)
  • IBJJF Pans Champion (2013 blue, 2016 brown)
  • IBJJF Pans No-Gi Champion (2015 purple, 2016 brown)
  • UAEJJF USA National Pro (2016[b] brown)
  • 2nd place IBJJF World Championship (2017 brown)
  • 2nd place IBJJF Pans Championship (2013[b] blue)
  • 2nd place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2016 brown)
  • 3rd place IBJJF Pans No-Gi Championship (2015[b] purple)

Main Achievements (juvenile divisions):[1]

  • IBJJF World Juvenile Champion (2012 blue)
  • IBJJF Pans Juvenile Champion (2012[b] blue)
  • 2nd place IBJJF World Juvenile Championship (2012[b] blue)

Instructor lineage

Lineage 1: Kanō Jigorō → Mitsuyo Maeda → Luis França > Oswaldo Fadda→ Monir Salomão → Júlio César Pereira → Dante Leon

Lineage 2: Kanō Jigorō → Mitsuyo Maeda → Carlos Gracie Sr. → Helio Gracie → Carlos Gracie Jr. → Adilson Lima → Vitor Oliveira → Dante Leon

Notes

  1. ^ Absolute
  2. ^ a b c d e Weight and absolute

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Dante Leon | BJJ Heroes".
  2. ^ a b "Grappling Bulletin: Musumecis, Dante Leon Join Daisy Fresh Team - FloGrappling". www.flograppling.com. October 18, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Harrow's teenage jiu jitsu prodigy Dante Leon has a passion for submission holds". windsorstar. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Dante Leon". BJJ Fanatics. 2022.
  5. ^ "Dante Leon Defeats Edwin Najmi At Kasai Pro 5". BJJ Fanatics. April 7, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  6. ^ Clements, Averi (February 2, 2020). "Dante Leon Defeats Renato Canuto In Main Event Superfight At Kasai Pro 7". Jiu-Jitsu Times. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  7. ^ "Dante Leon, Tammi and Mikey Musumeci Join Pedigo Submission Fighting - Grappling Insider". grapplinginsider.com. October 18, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Ogi (September 20, 2022). "ADCC 2022 Results, Highlights, And Match Analysis | Jiu Jitsu Legacy". Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  9. ^ "ADCC Veterans Win Gold At IBJJF Tampa International Open 2023". JitsMagazine. February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  10. ^ Lindsey, Alex (April 27, 2023). "Who's Number One 18: Nicholas Meregali v Pedro Marinho Full Card Confirmed". JitsMagazine. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  11. ^ "Who's Number One 18: Nicholas Meregali v Pedro Marinho Full Results And Review". JitsMagazine. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  12. ^ "Top Competitors Take To The Mats At IBJJF Indianapolis Open 2023". Jitsmagazine. June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  13. ^ Burne, Kathrine (June 30, 2023). "Ethan Crelinsten And Dante Leon Fight For Lightweight Title At Who's Number One 19". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  14. ^ "Who's Number One 19: Nicholas Meregali v Kaynan Duarte Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  15. ^ "IBJJF No Gi Pan Championship 2023 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  16. ^ "ADCC Veterans Win Big At IBJJF Nashville Fall Open 2023". Jitsmagazine. November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  17. ^ Blackett, Todd (December 8, 2023). "Full Team Lineups Confirmed For AIGA Champions League Final 2023". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  18. ^ "AIGA Champions League Semi-Final 2023 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "AIGA Champions League Final 2023 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  20. ^ Blackett, Todd. "Dante Leon Awarded Bonus As MVP Of AIGA Champions League Season 2". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  21. ^ "The JitsMagazine 2023 BJJ Awards". Jitsmagazine. January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  22. ^ "Who's Number One 22: Nicky Rodriguez vs Victor Hugo Full Preview". Jitsmagazine. February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  23. ^ "Who's Number One 22: Nicky Rodriguez vs Victor Hugo Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. February 10, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  24. ^ Phillips, Sabrina (February 4, 2024). "Full Lineup Announced For IBJJF No Gi Absolute Grand Prix 2024". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  25. ^ "IBJJF No Gi Absolute Grand Prix 2024 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. March 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  26. ^ "IBJJF No Gi American National Championship 2024 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. June 30, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  27. ^ Blackett, Todd (April 20, 2024). "Three Invites Announced For ADCC 2024 Under 77kg Division". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  28. ^ "ADCC 2024 Live Results, Play-by-play, Analysis, Highlights, More". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  29. ^ "ADCC 2024 Absolute Divisions Live Results, Play-by-play, Analysis, Highlights, More". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  30. ^ "UFC Fight Pass Invitational 8 Full Preview". Jits Magazine. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  31. ^ "UFC Fight Pass Invitational 8 Full Results And Highlights". Jits Magazine. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  32. ^ "Polaris 30 Full Card Preview". Jits Magazine. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  33. ^ "Polaris 30 Full Results And Highlights". Jits Magazine. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  34. ^ Jones, Phil. "Cole Abate And Dante Leon Sign With ONE Championship". Jits Magazine. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  35. ^ "Dante Leon Wins Promotional Debut By Submission At ONE Fight Night 26". Jits Magazine. Retrieved December 7, 2024.