Dante Leon (martial artist)

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

Dante Leon
BornDante Scott Leon
(1995-05-06) May 6, 1995[1]
Essex County, 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
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 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 2018 New York, USA -79.5 kg
Gold medal – first place 2017 New York, USA -79.5 kg

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, two-time No-Gi Pan champion, American Nationals champion as well as an 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

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 semifinals 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]

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]

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]

Grappling competitive summary

Main Achievements as black belt:[1]

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

Main Achievements (juvenile divisions):[1]

  • IBJJF World Juvenile Champion (2012 blue)
  • IBJJF Pans Juvenile Champion (2012[lower-alpha 2] blue)
  • 2nd place IBJJF World Juvenile Championship (2012[lower-alpha 2] 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. Weight and absolute

References
  1. "Dante Leon | BJJ Heroes".
  2. "Grappling Bulletin: Musumecis, Dante Leon Join Daisy Fresh Team - FloGrappling". www.flograppling.com.
  3. "Harrow's teenage jiu jitsu prodigy Dante Leon has a passion for submission holds". windsorstar. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  4. "Dante Leon". BJJ Fanatics. 2022.
  5. "Dante Leon Defeats Edwin Najmi At Kasai Pro 5". BJJ Fanatics. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  6. Clements, Averi (2020-02-02). "Dante Leon Defeats Renato Canuto In Main Event Superfight At Kasai Pro 7". Jiu-Jitsu Times. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  7. "Dante Leon, Tammi and Mikey Musumeci Join Pedigo Submission Fighting - Grappling Insider". grapplinginsider.com. 2021-10-18. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  8. Ogi (2022-09-20). "ADCC 2022 Results, Highlights, And Match Analysis | Jiu Jitsu Legacy". Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  9. "ADCC Veterans Win Gold At IBJJF Tampa International Open 2023". JitsMagazine. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  10. Lindsey, Alex (27 April 2023). "Who's Number One 18: Nicholas Meregali v Pedro Marinho Full Card Confirmed". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  11. "Who's Number One 18: Nicholas Meregali v Pedro Marinho Full Results And Review". JitsMagazine. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  12. "Top Competitors Take To The Mats At IBJJF Indianapolis Open 2023". Jitsmagazine. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  13. Burne, Kathrine (30 June 2023). "Ethan Crelinsten And Dante Leon Fight For Lightweight Title At Who's Number One 19". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  14. "Who's Number One 19: Nicholas Meregali v Kaynan Duarte Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  15. "IBJJF No Gi Pan Championship 2023 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
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