Dante Leon (martial artist)

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 GF Team 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]

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]

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[lower-alpha 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)

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