Dante Leon discovered success past his weight class and towards elite opponents to grow to be the 2023 Male Grappler of the Yr.
Already a well-established elite black belt competitor, Dante Leon loved his finest yr but in 2023, submitting numerous high opponents throughout a spread of weight lessons and rulesets.
Contemplating his stage of opposition and spectacular submission fee, the 28-year-old Pedigo Submission Preventing consultant stands out among the many relaxation as the highest male grappler of 2023.
Dante Leon in 2023
Leon began his yr competing in some smaller tournaments, together with a Grappling Industries occasion at which he suffered his first of two defeats in 2023, dropping a slim determination towards multiple-time heavyweight no-gi world champion Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu.
After that, he would go on a powerful run of dominance below quite a lot of rulesets. He submitted no-gi world champion Jeferson Guaresi at a Twisted Church occasion, submitted ADCC veteran Ruan Alvarenga at Who’s Quantity One (WNO), and earned a choice over tenth Planet standout PJ Barch.
Subsequent, in August, Leon picked up one in every of his marquee wins when he submitted perennial high competitor Ethan Crelinsten with a rear-naked choke to assert the vacant WNO light-weight title.
Shortly after that, he traveled to Kazakhstan the place he earned two extra submission wins on the AIGA Champion’s League, together with a rear-naked choke over ADCC veteran Kenta Iwamoto.
Leon then returned to the U.S. to compete on the IBJJF No-Gi Pans within the super-heavy division, giving up over 20 kilos in dimension to his opposition. It was his stellar efficiency at that event that sealed his standing because the pound-for-pound king in 2023.
Whereas he would lose an in depth match towards Luccas Lira within the opening spherical of absolutely the division, Leon stormed again in his weight division to not solely avenge that loss but in addition defeat 2021 no-gi world champion Devhonte Johnson to assert gold.
Leon closed out his 2023 with 5 consecutive submission wins, together with a triangle choke on reigning gi world champion Johnatha Alves.
Although different standout grapplers discovered success in each gi and no-gi competitors, or competed at extra IBJJF tournaments, none matched Leon’s pound-for-pound work or his quantity of submission wins towards top-flight opponents.
2023 Male Grappler of the Yr honorable mentions
Nicholas Meregali: Undefeated in 2023 whereas competing in each gi and no-gi, and with wins over elite expertise like Kaynan Duarte and Erich Munis, Meregali seems to be to be the game’s high heavyweight.
Diego “Pato” Oliveira: The Artwork of Jiu-Jitsu consultant gained each gi and no-gi Worlds and defeated reigning ADCC champion Diogo Reis to show in one other sensational yr.
Victor Hugo: Hugo’s standout efficiency got here on the IBJJF Worlds the place he gained by submission within the last of each the ultra-heavy and absolute divisions to assert double gold.
Junny Ocasio: The Unity Jiu-Jitsu consultant enjoyed a breakout year, successful gold within the light-feather division on the IBJJF No-Gi Pans, Euros, and Worlds.
Mica Galvao: The younger phenom competed extensively in each the gi and no-gi, dropping only one time whereas amassing the WNO welterweight title.
