Top no-gi competitor Dante Leon opened up about his motivations for signing with ONE Championship.
Fresh off an impressive, third-place run at the 2024 ADCC World Championships and a dominant win at Polaris 30, elite no-gi competitor Dante Leon will soon make his promotional debut in ONE Championship’s submission grappling division when he takes on fellow BJJ black belt Bruno Pucci on December 6 at ONE Fight Night 26.
A long-time mainstay of the world-class no-gi competition scene, Leon is a big pick-up for the Singapore-based martial arts organization. In addition to his multiple ADCC podium appearances, the Canadian is a two-time IBJJF no-gi world champion and a former Grapplefest and Who’s Number One champion, boasting victories over a number of the sport’s best across multiple weight classes. In 2023, he was named Grappling Insider’s Male Grappler of the Year.
For Leon, the decision to sign with ONE was primarily about the opportunity to face who he sees as the planet’s top submission grappling competitors.
“I see ONE as being a really premier organization, between their presentation, between how they conduct themselves, and a big thing is the athletes that are there,” he said in an interview with ONE Championship.
Indeed, if he can get past Pucci at ONE Fight Night 26, Leon can look forward to potential clashes with ONE’s current 170-pound champion Kade Ruotolo or his twin brother and 185-pound champion Tye Ruotolo. Both are consistently ranked among the sport’s pound-for-pound best. Leon has never faced Kade in competition and is 1-1 against Tye.
“There are extremely high-level grapplers over there that have held titles,” said Leon. “Now, some of the most high-level on the planet, regardless of who you ask, regardless of what kind of competition rules that you’re looking at, the best of the best are over there at ONE as far as submission grappling goes.”
As one of the sport’s most sought-after competitors, Leon entertained offers from multiple organizations. His signing with ONE came at a time when he had an offer on the table to compete at December’s UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9, sources told Grappling Insider.
Ultimately, though, he was driven by his desire to face the toughest competition available and solidify himself as an all-time great – something he thinks he can accomplish in ONE.
“I think if anybody’s serious about grappling,” he said, “if anybody’s serious about winning a title that will cement their legacy as an all-time great, I think the ONE World Title is key for your mantelpiece.”
How to watch: Dante Leon vs. Bruno Pucci takes place on December 6, 2024, at ONE Fight Night 26 and will air live on Prime Video (free with Amazon Plus subscription) beginning at 8:00 PM EST.
