BJJ

Dante Leon - Top No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Grappler

Dante Leon - Top No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Grappler

1. Dante Leon Details

Dante Leon Details
Name Dante Leon
Nickname Endseeker
Born Harrow, Canada
Current Residence Toledo, Ohio
Date of Birth 06 May 1995
Nationality Canadian
College/University Mt. San Antonio College
Last Fight 2022 ADCC World Championship
Last Weigh In 77Kg
Weight Class Middleweight Division (181.6 lbs).
Weight 77 Kg- 169 lbs
Height 5’8”
Career Disclosed Earnings N/A
Fighting out of Toledo, the United States
Foundational style Hard-nosed style
FavoriteTechnique Well Rounded
Rank Black Belt
Awarded By  Vitor Oliveira and  Júlio César Pereira
Head Coach Dean Hersche
Lineage 1 Luis França -> Oswaldo Fadda -> Monir Salomão -> Júlio César Pereira -> Dante Leon
Lineage 2 C. Gracie -> Helio Gracie -> Carlos Gracie Jr -> Adilson Lima -> Vitor Oliveira -> Dante Leon
Team/Association GF Team / Adamas Jiu-Jitsu

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2. Dante Leon Biography

Dante Leon is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and is a No-Gi World Champion. He works for Grappling Fight GF in Toledo, Ohio. It was on May 6, 1995, that Leon was born in Ontario, Canada. Currently, he competes in the middleweight class (181.6 pounds).


In his teens, Leon began practicing Jiu-Jitsu and frequently traveled across the Canadian-U.S. borders to take courses. When Dante was just an orange belt, Rubens Charles taught him how to invert during private lessons. After winning the 2017 and 2018 IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championships and the 2019 IBJJF World No-Gi Championships as a black belt, Leon has built a name for himself as a No-Gi competitor and super fighter.

2.1. Early Life and Amateur Fighting

In the small Ontario hamlet of Harrow in Essex County, Dante’s parents were teachers and musicians.


Leon played ice hockey till his teen age in the Ontario region, where Dante was born and raised. Dante's father introduced him to combat sports and martial arts at the age of six, and these occupations remained an important part of his childhood.


He was fortunate that both of his parents were affiliated with different prestigious professions. In his early teen years, Dante’s mother wanted him to learn music besides playing hockey.

“She suggested piano lessons. I said there was no way I was going to do piano lessons,” Leon recalls with a smile. “I turned to my dad for help.”

Dante’s father Dino was a martial artist. He knew the importance of martial arts in life. He was the one to introduce Dante to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

“He never got into jiu-jitsu himself, because he was in a lot of other martial arts,” Dante tells about his father: “But he thought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu would be the best martial art to do, and I think he’s right.”

Dante began learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu at 12, followed by boxing. He got the opportunity to train with Windsor Essex's most experienced competitors of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Leon has been training in Jiu-Jitsu since 2007. After meeting with his first coach, Dean Hersche (Late), the youthful Canadian could not resist the urge to swim in the deep waters of grappling.


Leon once said after a session at Tecumseh Jiu Jitsu gym ,“What I love most about jiu-jitsu is competing.”

“It’s changed my life so much. It’s just had such an effect on me.”

Leon once said,

“it’s uncommon for someone to take interest in sports the way I do , especially when I aim to submit the opponent at any cost”.

Despite his growing interest in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, he was aware of the differences and approaches of other martial arts. He's aware that most people don't comprehend the level of skill required to bring down the skilled opponent.

“I like the fact that it’s an individual sport,” Leon says. “All the pressure is on you. It makes you a lot more conscious of how you train, how you compete.”

2.2. Dante Leon Pro BJJ Combat

Leon graduated from a White to a Purple Belt under the Gracie Humaitá/Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu organization. He needed a better training environment as his dreams in the sport intensified. His close friend Kelly Hymore helped him make that happen by introducing him to Abraham Marte and then his meeting was arranged with Vitor Oliveira of GF Team.

“I feel like a lot of the people who ask stuff like that are the people who don’t really understand what it’s like to have that large of a passion for something.”

Kelly Hymore would eventually move Dante and Gutemberg Pereira to Toledo, Ohio, in the United States to get training at Grappling Fight Team (GFT) Toledo, full-time under the guidance of the same Kelly Hymore. The IBJJF and UAEJJF competitions were dominated by the pair (Leon and Pereira) under this new schedule. Vitor Oliveira and Julio César Pereira awarded them Black Belts in June 2017 after a string of successes.

“I’ve always been confident in my game. I train with a lot of good guys, and I think that confidence comes from all those guys. They push me hard,” Leon says. “The reason I’m never afraid is because of the guys I train with.”

As a black belt, Leon's ultimate goal was to win Championship Gold in his weight class and in the Open Weight Class.

He says,

“I feel if you can conquer those things, if you can win double gold, that means you’re exceptional. You’re one of the best ever.”

2.3. Dante Leon Favorite Move

Dante Leon shared about his favorite move,” My favorite move is constantly changing but it’s no secret I love to take the back and finish, rear naked choke being my biggest weapon from the back.”

2.4. Dante Leon Historic Fights

Dante Leon Vs. Tye Ruotolo

Dante faced Tye Ruotolo at Grappler Fest 8 in 2020. Both competitors show off their elite grappling skills in a very offensive style. Dante dominated the fight and won by points.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Round Weight
2022 Grapple Feast 8 Tye Ruotolo Win Decision 1 77 Kg

Dante Leon vs Santiago Furlong

The bout was held in the 2021 Kansas City Open No-Gi competition. Both fighters relentlessly fought but Dante dominates the scorecard and strangled Santiago at the 3:10 of the fight in a lethal triangle choke and get the submission.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Round Weight Location
2019 Kansas City Open No-Gi  Santiago Furlong Win Submission 1 77Kg Kansas US

Dante Leon vs Renato Canuto

Both fighters faced each other at the eliminator round of 2016 Pan Championship. It was a show off of amazing techniques and defensive style grappling moves. Dante won the fight by getting a submission.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Round Weight
2016 Pan Championship  Renato Canuto Win Decision 1 77 Kg

2.5. Dante Leon BJJ Instructorship

Dante Leon is running his gym Adamas Jiu-Jitsu Toledo in Canada in collaboration with GF Team Toledo and GF Team Perrysburg. The basic aim of the gym is to promote martial arts with self-defense and discipline.


A family-friendly environment is maintained for the trainers to learn and pursue their careers as BJJ instructors. There is no age limit to joining the gym.


Dante Leon’s long range of instructional videos is available for learning different techniques of BJJ including takedowns, guard passes, submissions, and back attacks.

“Everything I enter, I want to win,” he says. “I have large goals and small goals. I want to win all the major tournaments next year.”

“I feel if you can conquer those things, if you can win double gold, that means you’re exceptional. You’re one of the best ever,” he says.

2.6. Dante Leon BJJ Championships and Achievements

Dante holds six IBJJF World Championships titles and a UAEJJF World Championship title. The fact that he has achieved world championship status at every belt color ranking, which very few fighters are able to achieve.

  • National Championships
  • International Championships

3. Dante Leon Main Achievement and Accomplishments

3.1. Gi Tournaments

One time Kasai Grappling
One time IBJJF Pans Championship
One time UAEJJF USA National Pro – Long Beach


Year Division
2020 Middleweight
2016-13 Middleweight
2016 Middleweight

3.2. No-Gi Tournaments

 One-Time IBJJF World Championship No-Gi.


Year Division
2019 Middleweight

4. Main Achievements (Belts)

4.1. Coloured Belts

Position Belt Event Year
1st Brown IBJJF World Championship No-Gi 2016
1st Brown IBJJF Pans Championship No-Gi 2016
1st Purple IBJJF Pans Championship 2015
1st Brown IBJJF Pans Championship 2016
1st Blue IBJJF Pans Championship 2013
1st Brown UAEJJF USA NAtional Pro. Long Beach 2016
2nd Brown IBJJF World Championship 2017
2nd Blue IBJJF Pans Championship 2013
3rd Brown UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro 2016

4.2. Juvenile Belt Achievements

Position Belt Event Year
1st Blue IBJJF World Juvenile Championship 2012
1st Blue IBJJF Pans Juvenile Championship 2012
1st Blue IBJJF World Juvenile Championship 2012

4.3. Black Belt Achievements

Position Belt Event Year
1st Black Kasai Grappling 2020
1st Black IBJJF WorldChampionship NOGI 2019
1st Black IBJJF Pans Championship 2018
1st Black IBJJF Pans Championship No-Gi 2017
1st Black IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi 2017

5. Dante Leon BJJ Professional Record Breakdown

Method Wins Losses
Submission  60 9
Points 22 16
Advantage  7 4
Decision 5 12
Other  2 0
Split Decision 0 1
By Penalties 0 0
By DQ 0 0

5.1. Submission W/L Methods

Methods Wins Losses
RNC  19 3
Arm bar 15 1
Knee Bar  6 0
Triangle 3 0
Inside Heel Hook  2 0
Outside Heel hook 2 2
 Triangle ArmBar  2 0
Choke From  Back 3 0
Reverse Triangle  1 0
Guillotine 2 1
Towhold  1 0
Calf Slicer  1 0
Heel Hook 1 1
Inside Heel Hook 1 0
Kimura  0 1
Botinha  1 0
Manoplata  1 0
Short Choke  1 0
Violin Armlock  1 0
Calf Slicer  0 1
Yoko Sankaku  1 0

6. Dante Leon BJJ Fight History

Date Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight
2022 Tezos WNO: Gordon Ryan vs Jacob Couch M. Galvao L Decision SPF Welterweight
2021 GrappleFest 10 O. Taza W Decision SPF Referee Decision
2021  World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship H. Marques L Advantage F Middleweight
2021 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship C. Mayfield W Reverse Triangle R2 Middleweight
2021 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship P. Gabriel W RNC SF Middleweight
2021  World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship P. Barch W Advantage 4F Middleweight
2021 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship R. Mutalib W Outside Heel Hook 8F Middleweight
2021 FloGrappling WNO Championship J. Blank W Decision 4F 185 lbs
2021 FloGrappling WNO Championship T. Ruotolo L Guillotine SF 185 lbs
2021 FloGrappling WNO Championship W. Tackett L Calf Slicer RPC 185 lbs
2021 Fight to Win 182 D. Ramos W RNC SPF 185 lbs
2021 IBJJF Charleston Summer Open No-Gi F. Cuneo W Points SF Absolute Division
2021 IBJJF Charleston Summer Open No-Gi L. Laet W Outside Heel Hook F Absolute Division
2021 IBJJF Charleston Summer Open No-Gi J. Douglas W Inside Heel Hook 4F Absolute Division
2021 FloGrappling Road to ADCC N. Ryan L Points SPF 175 lbs
2021 Fight to Win 164 M. Filho L Split Decision N/A  N/A
2020 WNO: Kaynan Duarte vs Rodolfo Vieira R. Jimenez L Decision SPF 190lbs
2020 WNO: Gordon Ryan vs Matheus Diniz K. Steele W Decision SPF 185 lbs
2020 Fight to Win 148 G. Tonon L Decision SPF  77Kg
2020 Fight to Win 142 J. Tama W Triangle SPF  N/A
2020 Grapplefest 8 T. Ruotolo W Decision SPF  77Kg
2020 KASAI Pro 7 R. Canuto W Points SPF  77Kg
2019 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship F. Silva W Advantage N/A Middleweight
2019 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship J. Vilander W Other R1 Middleweight
2019 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship P. Rocha W Triangle ArmBar 4F Middleweight
2019 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship J. Canuto W Points F Middleweight
2019 GrappleFest 7 M. Andre W Decision SPF  85Kg
2019 Fight 2 Win 129 I. Bahiense W Armbar SPF 180lbs
2019 King of the Mats 7 A. Baker W RNC 4F Absolute Division
2019 King of the Mats 7 S. Jutras W Knee Bar R1 Absolute Division
2019 King of the Mats 7 K. Boehm L RNC SF Absolute Division
2019 ADCC World Championships J. Satava W Points R1 -77kgs
2019 ADCC World Championships V. Rocha L Decision SF -77kgs
2019 ADCC World Championships G. Tonon L Outside Heel Hook 3RD -77kgs
2019 ADCC World Championships L. Lepri W Points 4F -77kgs
2019 Fight 2 Win 123 G. Arges L Decision R2 185 lbs
2019 SubStars at The Tank 2 J. Buscape W Inside Heel Hook N/A  N/A
2019 Kasai Super Series Orlando R. Canuto L Points SPF 170lbs
2019 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship G. Arges L Points R2 Middleweight
2019 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship L. Valle W Armbar R1 Middleweight
2019 IBJJF Chicago Spring Open L. Valle W Armlock F Middleweight
2019 IBJJF Chicago Spring Open R. Barbosa W RNC N/A Middleweight
2019 Kasai Pro 5 E. Najmi W RNC SPF 175 lbs
2019 BigFoot Brawl E. Carlton W Armbar F Absolute Division
2019 King of the Mats 5 C. Dempsey W Triangle R1 185 lbs
2019 King of the Mats 5 J. Lavagi W Triangle SF 185 lbs
2019 King of the Mats 5 Q. Rosenzweig W Armbar F 185 lbs
2019 King of the Mats 5 D. Garmo W RNC 4F 185 lbs
2019 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship I. Bahiense L Points 8F Middleweight
2019 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship T. Keenan W Advantage R1 Middleweight
2019 Kasai Super Series 1 M. Lutes W RNC N/A 170lbs
2018 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship J. Jackson W Guillotine R1 Middleweight
2018 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship H. Marques L Advantage SF Middleweight
2018 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship F. Silva W RNC 4F Middleweight
2018 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship E. Galarza W Armbar SF Middleweight
2018 King of the Mat 4 N. Spacek W Armbar R1 N/A
2018 King of the Mat 4 K. Thomison W RNC R1  N/A
2018 King of the Mat 4 L. jackson W Knee Bar SF  N/A
2018 World Series of Grappling 2 J. Tama L Decision R1 180lbs
2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Los Angeles D. Ramalho L Decision 3RD 85kgs
2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Los Angeles D. Nitkin W Other 4F 85kgs
2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Los Angeles R. Mateus L Points SF 85kgs
2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Los Angeles B. Hill W Points 8F 85kgs
2018 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF No-Gi Championship A. Miranda W RNC ABS Middleweight
2018 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF No-Gi Championship M. Trasso W Points F Middleweight
2018 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF No-Gi Championship K. Duarte L Advantage 4F Absolute Division
2018 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF No-Gi Championship E. Galarza W Points SF Middleweight
2018 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF No-Gi Championship B. Hill W Advantage 8F Absolute Division
2018 Fight 2 Win Pro 84 M. Leighton L Armbar SPF 190lbs
2018 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open No-Gi K. Gonzalez W RNC N/A Absolute Division
2018 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open No-Gi D. Garmo W RNC F Absolute Division
2018 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open R. Malof W Points F Middleweight
2018 Dreem Invitational M. Carpenter W Knee Bar F 180lbs
2018 Dreem Invitational I. Underwood W Armbar 4F 180lbs
2018 Dreem Invitational K. Thomison W RNC 4F 180lbs
2018 Dreem Invitational A. Hernandez W Other SF 180lbs
2018 Fight 2 Win Pro 79 J. Baize W RNC SPF 190lbs
2018 Grappling Industries Miami V. Rocha L RNC SPF Middleweight
2018 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship G. Arges L Points 8F Middleweight
2018 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship D. Pé-de-Chumbo W Armbar N/A Middleweight
2018 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship B. Hill W Choke From the Back RR Middleweight
2018 IBJJF Dallas Spring Open I. Neto L Points SF Absolute Division
2018 IBJJF Dallas Spring Open B. Machado W Armbar N/A Middleweight
2018 IBJJF Dallas Spring Open A. Vieira W Points 4F Absolute Division
2018 Kasai Pro 2 M. Perez L Heel Hook RR Middleweight
2018 Kasai Pro 2 C. Jones L Points N/A Middleweight
2018 Kasai Pro 2 N. Calvanese W RNC RR Middleweight
2018 Fight 2 Win Pro 69 C. Knight W Bow and Arrow SPF 185 lbs
2018 King of the Mat 1: The Proving Ground J. Michael W RNC SF 185 lbs
2018 King of the Mat 1: The Proving Ground S. Saim W Toehold 4F 185 lbs
2018 King of the Mat 1: The Proving Ground B. Schneider W Armbar F 185 lbs
2018 King of the Mat 1: The Proving Ground E. Dewitt W Armbar R1 185 lbs
2018 IBJJF Chicago Spring Open J. Dopp L Points 4F Absolute Division
2018 IBJJF Chicago Spring Open M. Tinoco L Advantage F Middleweight
2018 IBJJF Chicago Spring Open B. Bergeron W Armbar R1 Absolute Division
2018 IBJJF Chicago Spring Open D. Garmo W Triangle ArmBar SF Middleweight
2018 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship T. Langaker L Points 8F Middleweight
2018 IBJJF New York Pro Championship M. Filho L Points N/A Middleweight
2017 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship S. Rios W Advantage 4F Middleweight
2017 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship J. Hinger L Decision SF Middleweight
2017 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship L. Valle W Advantage R2 Middleweight
2017 IBJJF New York Pro Championship M. Filho L Points N/A Middleweight
2017 IBJJF New York Pro Championship F. Silva W Armbar R1 Middleweight
2017 Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship D. Akbari W Advantage 4F Middleweight
2017 Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship V. Canabarro W Straight Ankle Lock 4F Absolute Division
2017 Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship J. Sousa L Points SF Absolute Division
2017 Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship J. Bacallao W Points SF Middleweight
2017 Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship E. Rios W Points F Middleweight
2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Los Angeles V. Silverio L Advantage SF 85kgs
2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Los Angeles S. Rios L Points RR 85kgs
2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Los Angeles N. Mendelsohn W Advantage 4F 85kgs
2017 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open K. Cornelius L Kimura SF Absolute Division
2017 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open J. Cummings W Points 4F Absolute Division
2017 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open I. Paiva W Choke From the Back N/A Middleweight
2017 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open D. Raab W Points N/A Middleweight
2017 ACB JJ World Open Championship H. Junior L Decision N/A 85kgs
2017 ACB JJ World Open Championship L. Rocha W Points N/A 85kgs
2017 ACB JJ World Open Championship G. Batista L Points N/A 85kgs
2017 American National IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship N. Mendelsohn W Knee Bar N/A Middleweight
2017 American National IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship J. Hinger L RNC N/A Absolute Division
2017 American National IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship L. Rocha W Advantage N/A Absolute Division
2017 American National IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship M. Campos W Knee Bar N/A Middleweight
2017 American National IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship P. Silva W Points N/A Middleweight
2017 American National IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship S. Thometz W Points N/A Absolute Division

7. Dante Leon Top Fights (Links)

Nicholas Meregali VS Dante Leon / Pan Championship 2016

Nicky Ryan fights through an injury & defeats Dante Leon | 2021 Road to ADCC

Full Match: Dante Leon vs. Roberto Jimenez | Who's Number One

Dante Leon v Paulo Costa / World NoGi 2021

Dante Leon vs Eliezer Skaf / Chicago Summer Open 2017


Photo credit: @danteleonbjj

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