Canada is residence to nice fighters and martial artists like Rory Macdonald, Carlos Newton, and Georges St-Pierre. Over the previous couple of years, Canada has been slowly climbing its strategy to the highest of the worldwide grappling world reminiscent of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and No-Gi Grappling with the likes of Oliver Taza, Ethan Crelinsten, and Dante Leon. Dante not too long ago signed a contract to compete within the ONE Championship grappling circuit, a bit of unimaginable information for grappling followers everywhere in the world. Immediately, we are going to focus on the grappling evolution of the Canadian powerhouse, Dante Leon.
Dante Leon’s Background
Dante Leon was born on Might 6, 1995, in Ontario, Canada. His father launched him to martial arts at age 6, which was a giant a part of his childhood. Like many Canadians within the area, Dante grew up and loved enjoying ice hockey as a child till his early teenagers.
Dante’s first expertise with martial arts was with boxing on the age of 6, and he was launched to BJJ at 12. His first BJJ teacher was Dean Hersche, who bought the younger Dante connected in pursuing grappling after a yr of coaching. Dante bought his early coloured belt promotions from white to purple beneath Gracie Humaita and Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu. Dante additional required a extra aggressive coaching setting as he bought extra devoted and dedicated to his grappling ambitions.
Due to this, with the assistance of some connections from his shut buddy Kelly Hymore, Dante was later launched to Vitor Oliveira of the Grappling Battle Workforce (GF Workforce). After a while, with the assistance of his shut mates Kelly and Gutemberg Pereira, they bought to america in Toledo, Ohio, to coach full-time beneath GFT Toledo. On this new set-up, Dante and Gutemberg gained quite a few vital titles within the worldwide grappling circuit, notably with the IBJJF and UAEJJF.
Their achievements as coloured belts resulted of their promotion to black belts from Vitor Oliveira and Julio Cesar Pereira in June 2017. Dante then opened his membership, Adamas Jiu-Jitsu, in Toledo after splitting with GFT. Dante presently represents Heath Pedigo of the Pedigo Submission Combating group in Illinois to maintain his aggressive spirits very a lot alive.
Aggressive Profession
Dante Leon is probably the most achieved Canadian grappler and is taken into account one of the vital proficient grappling athletes right this moment. He earned this repute by profitable vital titles in his coloured belt run within the IBJJF circuit, which he was capable of repeat in his black belt skilled profession, reminiscent of profitable the IBJJF World and Pans No-Gi Championship.
Immediately, let’s dive into Dante’s career-defining moments and the years of outstanding achievements.
1) 2017 – No-Gi Pans Championship
After getting promoted in 2017, Dante gained the American No-Gi Nationals and the IBJJF Pans No-Gi. The 2017 No-Gi Pans Championship was one in every of Dante’s first main achievements as a black belt proper after promotion.
2) 2019 – IBJJF No-Gi World Championship & ADCC
In 2018, Dante bought the bronze medal within the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship, which he was capable of bounce again to a yr later. Within the 2019 No-Gi IBJJF Worlds finals, Dante confronted his fellow teammate, Jaime Canuto. This was the primary yr he gained the No-Gi Worlds as a black belt, which he was capable of repeat three years later.
2019 was the primary ADCC yr for Dante. Whereas he was not capable of safe a medal after dropping to Garry Tonon within the bronze medal match, it was a bountiful expertise for him after beating Lucas Lepri and going through different grappling vets like Vagner Rocha.
3) 2020 – KASAI Professional 7, Grapplefest 8, & WNO 4
For 2018-2020, Dante has been actively competing within the KASAI Professional grappling circuit. He confronted the likes of Craig Jones and Renato Canuto in 2018 and beat one of many recognized submission hunters within the recreation, Edwin Najmi, in 2019. After dropping to Renato Canuto in 2019, Dante bought his revenge, beating Canuto by way of factors.
Throughout this season, Dante additionally confronted a younger Tye Ruotolo at Grapplefest 2020, securing a victory. Later, he engaged in a grappling showdown with Kody Steele—each famend for his or her dynamic and electrifying kinds—and emerged victorious by way of referee choice.
4) 2022 – IBJJF No-Gi World Championship & ADCC
In 2021, Dante introduced that he would formally be part of and compete beneath the Pedigo Submission Combating group. Dante gained the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds in 2022, turning into a world champion for the second time after beating Carlos Henrique within the finals.
Now competing for the second time within the ADCC, Dante succeeded by profitable bronze in his weight class. In his first match within the ADCC, Dante beat Magid Hage by way of armbar. After falling brief in a well-contested match within the semi-finals in opposition to one other rising phenom, Mica Galvao, Dante has overwhelmed PJ Barch for the bronze medal by way of armbar.
5) 2023 – IBJJF Pans Championship, AIGA Champions League & WNO 19
2023 was a busy yr competitively for Dante. He gained the middleweight and absolute division on the IBJJF Tampa Worldwide Open in February and the IBJJF Indianapolis Open in June, competing within the medium-heavyweight division. Competing in Who’s Quantity One (WNO), he beat Ruan Alvarenga and fellow Canadian Ethan Crelinsten on separate events.
Dante is among the strongest pound-for-pound grapplers within the recreation. He’s at all times up for challenges, even when it means grappling in opposition to larger opponents within the absolutes division. Whereas on a little bit of trip, he seen Grappling Industries, an area grappling match, and found that Roberto Abreu had registered in the identical competitors. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu is a multiple-time world champion and ADCC champion, and the 2 squared off within the absolute finals.
Citing extra challenges, Dante entered the IBJJF No-Gi Pan Championship beneath the super-heavyweight division and gained the gold medal.
AIGA is a world grappling competitors that invitations grapplers worldwide to type a group and compete beneath a banner. Dante was one of many rivals beneath group Modolfo of North America and was a key participant for the group. He gained the semi-final and the ultimate match by submission to assist the group win the match. From there, Dante was voted MVP of AIGA Season 2 and later gained the “No-Gi Male Grappler of the 12 months” by the JitsMagazine BJJ Awards in 2023.
6) 2024 – ADCC & UFC Battle Go Invitational
Dante was invited but once more to compete within the hardest submission grappling match on this planet, the ADCC. Dante is among the strongest grapplers within the recreation, and the well-known Westside Barbell group dealt with his energy and conditioning program.
Within the 2024 ADCC, Dante made a run within the absolutes division, beating Michael Perez, avenging his earlier ADCC loss in opposition to Mica Galvao, and beating New Wave Jiu-Jitsu’s Giancarlo Bodoni for the bronze medal.
Dante has a stoic strategy and doesn’t again from challenges, as he will get slapped by Andy Varela on the UFC Battle Go Invitational 8, which Andy bought penalized by some extent deduction. Dante instantly completed him by way of guillotine as Andy shot for a takedown.
Conclusion
Dante is among the most fun grapplers as a result of his dynamic playstyle showcases the deadly mixture of method and energy. We’re excited to see him compete in ONE Championship and stay up for how Dante’s new endeavor will degree up the attraction of recent grappling audiences in one of many greatest martial arts platforms on this planet.
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