Dante Leon is gearing up for his ONE Championship debut against Bruno Pucci at ONE Fight Night 26 on Friday, December 6. The talented grappler is ready to make a name for himself on the global stage right out of the gate. The platform is an exciting proposition for the debuting athlete.
“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 (h/t Grappling Insider).
Per Grapping Insider, Leon had other offers on the table, including one to compete on UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9. Instead, Leon committed to ONE and the growing stable of elite submission artists. The level of competition is what brought Leon to ONE.
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“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,” Leon stated.
Among the list of potential opponents are the Ruotolo brothers. Debuting in the lightweight division, Leon will be chasing Kade Ruotolo and the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title. It is a fresh matchup that Leon is excited about.
However, there is also Tye Ruotolo. Leon has met him on two occasions, and the series is deadlocked at 1-1. A trilogy matchup would be massive for both men.
The Ruotolos are just the tip of the iceberg, and Leon must get past Pucci first. But these stars of grappling are why Leon believes joining ONE is necessary for the world’s elite. It is a chase for legacy, and Leon is ready to build his beginning on December 6.
“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,” Leon said.
ONE Fight Night 26 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, December 6. The action begins at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
