Biography
Dante Leon is a Canadian Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and one of the most successful and well-rounded no-gi competitors of his era. Leon is known for his strong wrestling, dangerous guard, powerful rear naked and armbar finishes, and a high-paced, submission-oriented style that remains effective across multiple weight divisions.
Leon rose to international prominence through major wins at IBJJF No-Gi Worlds—where he became a world champion—as well as standout performances at ADCC, WNO, ONE Championship, and other top professional events. His breakout moment came at ADCC 2019, where he defeated several top-seeded athletes en route to a 4th-place finish, showcasing sharp scrimmage wrestling and tactical decision-making.
Known for his work ethic and powerlifting-focused strength routine, Leon has developed a reputation as one of the pound-for-pound strongest athletes. His guard is notoriously difficult to pass, complementing his strong top game and making him one of the most well-rounded grapplers in the sport. He also represented Team Daisy Fresh at CJI 2, further displaying his elite competitive versatility.
Dante Leon remains one of the most active and respected competitors in modern grappling, continually refining his game while serving as a head coach of Adamas Jiu-Jitsu in Ohio.
Personal
* Legend status is reserved for retired athletes with outstanding achievements and a lasting impact on the sport.
Rankings
Submissions Breakdown
| Submission | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Rear naked | 26 | 1 |
| Armbar | 15 | 0 |
| Triangle | 6 | 0 |
| Outside heel hook | 5 | 3 |
| Straight ankle lock | 2 | 0 |
| Arm-in guillotine | 2 | 0 |
| Inside heel hook | 2 | 0 |
| Side triangle | 2 | 0 |
| Shoulder lock | 2 | 0 |
| Toe hold | 1 | 0 |
| Guillotine | 1 | 0 |
| Heel hook | 1 | 0 |
| Kneebar | 1 | 0 |
| Rear kata gatame | 1 | 0 |
| Wristlock | 1 | 0 |
| Seated kata gatame | 0 | 1 |
| Calf slicer | 0 | 1 |
| Opponent | Result | Date | Event | Method | Weight | Round | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faris Benlamkadem | Loss | 12/13/2025 | No-Gi Worlds | Decision | 202 lbs | Semi-Finals | — |
| Jose Carvalho | Win | 12/13/2025 | No-Gi Worlds | Points: 16-0 | 202 lbs | Quarter-Finals | 80 |
| Jorge Barba | Win | 12/13/2025 | No-Gi Worlds | Armbar | 202 lbs | 16 | 60 |
| Lucas Gaulberto | Win | 12/13/2025 | No-Gi Worlds | Outside heel hook | 202 lbs | 32 | 50 |
| Declan Moody | Loss | 10/24/2025 | WNO 30 | Decision | Absolute | Finals | — |
| Felipe Costa | Win | 10/24/2025 | WNO 30 | Decision | Absolute | Semi-Finals | 875 |
| Pat Shahgholi | Win | 10/24/2025 | WNO 30 | Rear naked | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | 375 |
| Javier Barter | Loss | 10/5/2025 | No-Gi Pans | Points: 12-0 | 92KG | Semi-Finals | — |
| Sergio Vilas | Win | 10/5/2025 | No-Gi Pans | Points: 9-0 | 92KG | Quarter-Finals | 35 |
| Brian Beaury | Win | 10/5/2025 | No-Gi Pans | Points: 10-0 | 92KG | 16 | 25 |
| Victor Hugo | Draw | 8/31/2025 | CJI 2 | N/A | Quintet | Quarter-Finals | 94 |
| Fabricio Andrey | Loss | 2025 | AIGA Champions League Final | Decision | Quintet | Finals | — |
| Deandre Corbe | Win | 2025 | AIGA Champions League Final | Decision | Quintet | Semi-Finals | 200 |
| Marcus Phelan | Win | 2025 | AIGA Champions League Final | Outside heel hook | Quintet | Quarter-Finals | 80 |
| Tye Ruotolo | Loss | 2025 | One Fight Night 31 | Decision | Welterweight | Championship | — |
| Marcio Andre | Win | 2025 | ACBJJ 16 | Points: 1-0 | 77KG | — | 1 |
| Tommy Langaker | Win | 2025 | One Fight Night 27 | Decision | 77KG | — | 375 |
| Bruno Pucci | Win | 2024 | ONE | Armbar | 70KG | — | 356 |
| Ellis Younger | Win | 2024 | Polaris 30 | Decision | 77KG | — | 356 |
| Giancarlo Bodoni | Win | 2024 | ADCC | Decision | Absolute | — | 356 |
| Kaynan Duarte | Loss | 2024 | ADCC | Points: 2-0 | Absolute | Semi-Finals | — |
| Mica Galvao | Win | 2024 | ADCC | Straight ankle lock | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | 356 |
| Mike Perez | Win | 2024 | ADCC | Decision | Absolute | 16 | 309 |
| Elijah Dorsey | Loss | 2024 | ADCC | Points: 2-0 | 77KG | 16 | — |
| Sean Goolsby | Win | 2024 | No-Gi America | Outside heel hook | Absolute | Semi-Finals | 95 |
| Joao Nicolite | Win | 2024 | No-Gi America | Shoulder lock | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | 33 |
| Mateus Moraes | Win | 2024 | No-Gi America | Advantage | 79KG | Finals | 166 |
| Juan Armendariz | Win | 2024 | No-Gi America | Rear naked | 79KG | Semi-Finals | 95 |
| Mario Shonkwiler | Win | 2024 | No-Gi America | Points: 2-0 | 79KG | Quarter-Finals | 33 |
| Jett Thompson | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Dallas | Side triangle | 76KG | Finals | 30 |
| CJ Murdock | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Dallas | Rear naked | 76KG | Semi-Finals | 17 |
| James Nakashima | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Dallas | DQ | 76KG | Quarter-Finals | 4 |
| Diego Santana | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Dallas | Rear naked | 76KG | 16 | 2 |
| Pourya Samari | Win | 2024 | ADCC Open Dallas | Shoulder lock | 76KG | 32 | 2 |
| Calvin Tacey | Win | 2024 | Chicago Spring No-Gi | Triangle | Absolute | Semi-Finals | 6 |
| Kaisar Saulebayev | Win | 2024 | Chicago Spring No-Gi | Armbar | 79KG | Finals | 10 |
| Kaynan Duarte | Loss | 2024 | IBJJF No-Gi Grand Prix | Points: 2-0 | Absolute | Semi-Finals | — |
| Elder Cruz | Win | 2024 | IBJJF No-Gi Grand Prix | Advantage | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | 1 |
| Diego Oliveira | Loss | 2024 | WNO 22 | Outside heel hook | Lightweight | Championship | — |
| Andy Varela | Win | 2024 | UFC FPI 8 | Arm-in guillotine | 170LBS | — | 76 |
| Johnatha Alves | Win | 2023 | AIGA Champions League Finals | Triangle | 76KG | Finals | 323 |
| Talbudin Nurbek | Win | 2023 | AIGA Champions League Finals | Wristlock | 76KG | Semi-Finals | 170 |
| Wesley Possamai | Win | 2023 | Nashville Fall No-Gi | Inside heel hook | 79KG | Finals | 9 |
| Francisco Ortiz | Win | 2023 | Nashville Fall No-Gi | Rear naked | 79KG | Semi-Finals | 5 |
| Luccas Lira | Loss | 2023 | No-Gi Pans | Points: 2-0 | Absolute | 16 | — |
| Devhonte Johnson | Win | 2023 | No-Gi Pans | Points: 2-0 | 97KG | Finals | 149 |
| Luccas Lira | Win | 2023 | No-Gi Pans | Advantage | 97KG | Semi-Finals | 85 |
| Eliot Kelly | Win | 2023 | No-Gi Pans | Points: 4-0 | 97KG | Quarter-Finals | 30 |
| Kenta Iwamoto | Win | 2023 | AIGA Champions League | Armbar | 76KG | — | 68 |
| Adilov Abduzhalil | Win | 2023 | AIGA Champions League | Armbar | 83KG | — | 68 |
| Ethan Crelinsten | Win | 2023 | WNO 19 | Rear kata gatame | 70KG | Championship | 850 |
| PJ Barch | Win | 2023 | 247 FC | Decision | NA | — | 1 |
| Nathan Haddad | Win | 2023 | Indianapolis No-Gi | Unknown | 85KG | Finals | 9 |
| Ruan Alvarenga | Win | 2023 | WNO 18 | Rear naked | 70KG | — | 319 |
| Jeferson Guaresi | Win | 2023 | Twisted Church | Rear naked | N/A | — | 1 |
| Leon Jackson | Win | 2023 | Tampa No-Gi | Armbar | Absolute | Semi-Finals | 5 |
| Matheus Galvao | Win | 2023 | Tampa No-Gi | Points: 9-0 | 79KG | Finals | 9 |
| Ricardo Pena | Win | 2023 | Tampa No-Gi | Rear naked | 79KG | Semi-Finals | 5 |
| Carlos Henrique | Win | 2022 | No-Gi Worlds | Points: 2-0 | 73KG | Finals | 323 |
| Deandre Corbe | Win | 2022 | No-Gi Worlds | Rear naked | 73KG | Semi-Finals | 170 |
| Gabriel Ferreira | Win | 2022 | No-Gi Worlds | Rear naked | 73KG | Quarter-Finals | 68 |
| Allika Villatora | Win | 2022 | No-Gi Worlds | Triangle | 73KG | 16 | 51 |
| PJ Barch | Win | 2022 | ADCC | Armbar | 77KG | — | 319 |
| Mica Galvao | Loss | 2022 | ADCC | Points: 2-0 | 77KG | Semi-Finals | — |
| Mateusz Szczecinski | Win | 2022 | ADCC | Decision | 77KG | Quarter-Finals | 319 |
| Mateusz Szczecinski | Win | 2022 | ADCC | Decision | 77KG | Quarter-Finals | 319 |
| Magid Hage | Win | 2022 | ADCC | Armbar | 77KG | 16 | 276 |
| Charles Murdoch | Win | 2022 | Chicago Summer No-Gi | Rear naked | 79KG | Finals | 9 |
| Colon Santana | Win | 2022 | Chicago Summer No-Gi | Rear naked | 79KG | Semi-Finals | 5 |
| Johanan Vielma | Loss | 2022 | Orlando Summer No-Gi | Unknown | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | — |
| Italo Moura | Win | 2022 | Orlando Summer No-Gi | Rear naked | 79KG | Finals | 9 |
| Francisco Cuneo | Win | 2022 | Orlando Summer No-Gi | Points | 79KG | Semi-Finals | 5 |
| PJ Barch | Loss | 2022 | GrappleFest 12 | Decision | NA | — | — |
| Mateusz Szczecinski | Win | 2022 | GrappleFest 11 | Armbar | 80KG | — | 30 |
| Mica Galvao | Loss | 2022 | WNO 12 | Decision | 83KG | — | — |
| Oliver Taza | Win | 2021 | GrappleFest 10 | Decision | 80KG | — | 21 |
| Hugo Marques | Loss | 2021 | No-Gi Worlds | Decision | 79KG | Finals | — |
| Paulo Gabriel | Win | 2021 | No-Gi Worlds | Rear naked | 79KG | Semi-Finals | 120 |
| PJ Barch | Win | 2021 | No-Gi Worlds | Advantage | 79KG | Quarter-Finals | 48 |
| Rehan Muttalib | Win | 2021 | No-Gi Worlds | Outside heel hook | 79KG | 16 | 36 |
| Clay Mayfield | Win | 2021 | No-Gi Worlds | Side triangle | 79KG | 32 | 30 |
| William Tackett | Loss | 2021 | WNO Championship | Calf slicer | 84KG | — | — |
| Tye Ruotolo | Loss | 2021 | WNO Championship | Seated kata gatame | 84KG | Semi-Finals | — |
| Jon Blank | Win | 2021 | WNO Championship | Decision | 84KG | Quarter-Finals | 225 |
| Davi Ramos | Win | 2021 | F2W 182 | Rear naked | 77KG | — | 21 |
| Lucas Laet | Win | 2021 | Charleston No-Gi | Outside heel hook | Absolute | Finals | 7 |
| Francisco Cuneo | Win | 2021 | Charleston No-Gi | Points: 9-0 | Absolute | Semi-Finals | 4 |
| Jackson Douglas | Win | 2021 | Charleston No-Gi | Inside heel hook | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | 1 |
| Nicky Ryan | Loss | 2021 | Road to ADCC | Points: 5-0 | 77KG | — | — |
| Manuel Ribamar | Loss | 2021 | F2W 164 | Decision | 85KG | — | — |
| Kody Steele | Win | 2020 | WNO 4 | Decision | 77KG | — | 225 |
| Garry Tonon | Loss | 2020 | WNO | Decision | 77KG | — | — |
| Johnny Tama | Win | 2020 | F2W 142 | Triangle | N/A | — | 21 |
| Tye Ruotolo | Win | 2020 | GrappleFest 8 | Decision | 77KG | — | 21 |
| Renato Canuto | Win | 2020 | KASAI Pro 7 | Points: 5-4 | 77KG | — | 48 |
| Jaime Canuto | Win | 2019 | No-Gi Worlds | Points: 4-2 | 79KG | Finals | 114 |
| Felipe Cesar | Win | 2019 | No-Gi Worlds | Points: 4-2 | 79KG | Semi-Finals | 60 |
| Pedro Rocha | Win | 2019 | No-Gi Worlds | Armbar | 79KG | Quarter-Finals | 24 |
| Marcio Andre | Win | 2019 | GrappleFest 7 | Decision | 85KG | — | 11 |
| Kyle Boehm | Loss | 2019 | King of the Mat 7 | Rear naked | Absolute | Semi-Finals | — |
| Austin Baker | Win | 2019 | King of the Mat 7 | Rear naked | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | 1 |
| Scott Jutras | Win | 2019 | King of the Mat 7 | Kneebar | Absolute | 16 | 1 |
| Isaque Bahiense | Win | 2019 | F2W 129 | Arm-in guillotine | 81KG | — | 11 |
| Garry Tonon | Loss | 2019 | ADCC | Outside heel hook | 77KG | — | — |
| Vagner Rocha | Loss | 2019 | ADCC | Decision | 77KG | Semi-Finals | — |
| Lucas Lepri | Win | 2019 | ADCC | Points: 3-0 | 77KG | Quarter-Finals | 113 |
| Jonathan Satava | Win | 2019 | ADCC | Points: 3-0 | 77KG | 16 | 98 |
| Gabriel Arges | Loss | 2019 | F2W 123 | Decision | 85KG | — | — |
| Luiz Firminio | Win | 2019 | Sub Stars | Heel hook | 80KG | — | 1 |
| Renato Canuto | Loss | 2019 | KASAI Super Series 2 | Points: 5-4 | 77KG | — | — |
| Quentin Roszenweig | Win | 2019 | King of the Mat | Armbar | Absolute | Finals | 3 |
| Jared Lavagi | Win | 2019 | King of the Mat | Triangle | Absolute | Semi-Finals | 2 |
| David Garmo | Win | 2019 | King of the Mat | Rear naked | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | 1 |
| Chris Dempsey | Win | 2019 | King of the Mat | Triangle | Absolute | 16 | 1 |
| Edwin Najmi | Win | 2019 | KASAI 5 | Rear naked | 79KG | — | 24 |
| Matheus Lutes | Win | 2019 | KASAI Super Series 1 | Rear naked | 82KG | — | 24 |
| Elijah Carlton | Win | 2019 | Bigfoot | Armbar | Absolute | — | 1 |
| Hugo Marques | Loss | 2018 | No-Gi Worlds | Advantage | 79KG | Semi-Finals | — |
| Felipe Cesar | Win | 2018 | No-Gi Worlds | Rear naked | 79KG | Quarter-Finals | 24 |
| Enrique Falarza | Win | 2018 | No-Gi Worlds | Armbar | 79KG | 16 | 18 |
| Jeremy Jackson | Win | 2018 | No-Gi Worlds | Guillotine | 79KG | 32 | 15 |
| Kaynan Duarte | Loss | 2018 | No-Gi Pans | Advantage | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | — |
| Bradley Hill | Win | 2018 | No-Gi Pans | Advantage | Absolute | 16 | 8 |
| Michael Trasso | Win | 2018 | No-Gi Pans | Points: 2-0 | 79KG | Finals | 53 |
| Enrique Galarza | Win | 2018 | No-Gi Pans | Points: 6-0 | 79KG | Semi-Finals | 30 |
| Athos Miranda | Win | 2018 | No-Gi Pans | Rear naked | 79KG | Quarter-Finals | 11 |
| David Garmo | Win | 2018 | Chicago Summer No-Gi | Rear naked | Absolute | Finals | 3 |
| Kristopher Lopes | Win | 2018 | Chicago Summer No-Gi | Rear naked | Absolute | Semi-Finals | 2 |
| Joe Baize | Win | 2018 | F2W 79 | Rear naked | 82KG | — | 11 |
| Nick Calvanese | Win | 2018 | KASAI Pro 2 | Rear naked | 84KG | — | 24 |
| Mike Perez | Loss | 2018 | KASAI Pro 2 | Outside heel hook | 84KG | — | — |
| Craig Jones | Loss | 2018 | KASAI Pro 2 | Points: 2-0 | 84KG | — | — |
| Brad Schneider | Win | 2018 | King of the Mat 2 | Armbar | Absolute | Finals | 3 |
| Justin Michael | Win | 2018 | King of the Mat 2 | Rear naked | Absolute | Semi-Finals | 2 |
| Salah Saim | Win | 2018 | King of the Mat 2 | Toe hold | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | 1 |
| Evan Dewitt | Win | 2018 | King of the Mat 2 | Armbar | Absolute | 16 | 1 |
| Josh Hinger | Loss | 2017 | No-Gi Worlds | Decision | 79KG | Semi-Finals | — |
| Sergio Rios | Win | 2017 | No-Gi Worlds | Advantage | 79KG | Quarter-Finals | 16 |
| Lucas Valle | Win | 2017 | No-Gi Worlds | Points: 2-0 | 79KG | 16 | 12 |
| Jackson Sousa | Loss | 2017 | No-Gi Pans | Points: 2-0 | Absolute | Semi-Finals | — |
| Vinicius Canabarro | Win | 2017 | No-Gi Pans | Straight ankle lock | Absolute | Quarter-Finals | 7 |
| Eduardo Rios | Win | 2017 | No-Gi Pans | Points: 11-2 | 79KG | Finals | 35 |
| Josh Bacallao | Win | 2017 | No-Gi Pans | Points: 6-0 | 79KG | Semi-Finals | 20 |
| Dustin Akbari | Win | 2017 | No-Gi Pans | Advantage | 79KG | Quarter-Finals | 7 |