An interesting submission grappling matchup is scheduled for ONE Fight Night 42, where Dante Leon and Kenta Iwamoto will meet in a welterweight match!
The bout will take place during ONE Championship’s fourth U.S. primetime card of 2026 and features two highly respected competitors with very different approaches to grappling.
Leon, the 30-year-old Canadian standout, has built a reputation as one of the sport’s most well-rounded athletes.
A two-time IBJJF No-Gi World Champion, he blends physical strength with technical control, making him effective in scrambles, guard passing, and back attacks alike.
He showcased that versatility during his appearance at ONE Fight Night 26 in late 2024, where he secured a finish over veteran black belt Bruno Pucci by taking the back and locking up an inverted Triangle Choke.
Shortly afterward, he earned a decision victory over Tommy Langaker, using heavy top pressure and positional control to secure the judges’ nod and move closer to title contention.
Leon’s momentum slowed when he challenged welterweight submission grappling champion Tye Ruotolo at ONE Fight Night 31.
Despite a competitive performance, he lost a decision and now returns looking to rebuild toward another title opportunity.
Across from him stands Iwamoto, a decorated Japanese grappler making his promotional debut but far from an unknown name in the grappling world.
The 29-year-old black belt in both judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has won the ADCC Asia & Oceania Trials three times and has developed a methodical style centered on tight control and opportunistic submissions.
He also has added motivation heading into the contest, having previously been submitted by Leon in a 2023 matchup outside of ONE Championship.
Iwamoto currently splits his training between IGLOO Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Japan and B-Team in Austin, Texas, giving him exposure to multiple high-level training environments.
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