News
Ben Coate
Dec 4, 2024
Dante Leon is set to make his promotional debut this Friday in U.S. primetime at ONE Fight Night 26: Lee vs. Rasulov on Prime Video. The decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt aims to impress the audience with his skills.
On December 6, the Canadian athlete will face fellow black belt Bruno “Puccibull” Pucci in a lightweight submission grappling match, which will broadcast live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
With an impressive collection of titles, including two IBJJF No-Gi World Titles and multiple ADCC World Championship medals, Leon has established himself as a top-tier grappler. However, he is yet to display his abilities on ONE’s extensive international stage.
As he looks ahead to his big debut, the 29-year-old detailed the excitement his fast-paced grappling style is sure to bring to the event.
“To explain to people who haven’t seen it before, it’s some controlled aggression, some controlled rage, I guess you could say. But controlled aggression, I say, would be the best terminology,” Leon stated.
Few embody the combination of technical acumen and relentless activity like Leon. While known for his rigorous strength training, he prioritizes technique and precision over brute force. He implements tactical approaches whether in guard or attempting to pass from the top.
Against Pucci, Leon plans to adopt a dominant yet measured strategy, expressing a desire to be aggressive while maintaining control.
“I’m gonna be very aggressive. I’m gonna be very forward, but I’m gonna be very controlled and measured as well. There’s gonna be nothing reckless. Things will be physical. I will come forward. I won’t take no for an answer at some point in the match, and I will impose my game. But my goal is to be in control. My goal is to look smooth. My goal is to look collected, control him, and put him away with something very controlling and very nice and crowd-pleasing for the fans,” he said.
While Leon is determined to secure a victory, he emphasizes that his performance should leave a lasting impression, aiming to showcase his positional control and expertise throughout the match.
“A beautiful submission doesn’t need to be flashy. A beautiful submission doesn’t need to be high-flying or something nobody’s ever seen. A beautiful submission can be dominant control from the mount that leads to an armbar or head-and-arm choke, or a back-take straight to a rear-naked choke where you have a body triangle and you’re in full control of your opponent,” he explained.
Looking ahead to his matchup with Pucci, Leon acknowledges the significance of asserting his dominance in the ring to impress the audience and cement his position as a leading grappler.
Leon also recognizes Pucci’s decision to accept the challenge. Despite having a successful MMA career, he appreciates the courage it takes to return to submission grappling against a formidable opponent.
“I appreciate him taking the match. I mean, I’m not an easy guy to go against, not just because of the style, but I’m active. I’m not somebody who you can catch coming off the bench or anything like that. So, yeah, I tip my hat to him for that one, for him to come back to grappling. Going against me takes some guts, but I’m sure he has no shortage of that given that he’s had a 13-fight MMA career,” he said.
Leon is ready for the challenge and excited to demonstrate his skills on one of the largest platforms in the sport.
Leon Credits Pucci For Accepting Submission Grappling Match
Dante Leon’s transition to ONE Championship has brought with it significant expectations due to his track record in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, despite being favored, he remains respectful towards his opponent, Bruno Pucci, who also boasts impressive credentials in grappling.
As a two-time Purple Belt IBJJF No-Gi World Champion, Pucci has the chops, and Leon acknowledges his potential had he focused on jiu-jitsu instead of transitioning to MMA.
“He’s one of those guys that if he decided to just stick with jiu-jitsu, who knows? Maybe he could have been a guy who won World Titles and things like that. But he decided to go to MMA for whatever reason he chose. It looks like it’s been successful for him,” Leon remarked.
The Canadian grappler is motivated to silence any doubts regarding his prowess and aims to capitalize on his experience as a competitor to deliver a formidable performance in the ring.
With his sights firmly set on victory at ONE Fight Night 26 and a chance to etch his name among the grappling elite, Leon is prepared to showcase the skills that garnered him recognition on the international stage.
