“It was frustrating” - BJJ superstar Dante Leon says Tommy Langaker will be a tough puzzle to crack at ONE Fight Night 27

Dante Leon is determined to settle the score when he takes on Tommy Langaker in a rematch at ONE Fight Night 27 on Friday, Jan. 10.

The two submission grappling standouts will face off in a 180-pound catchweight bout, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Their rivalry dates back to 2018 when Langaker edged Leon with a narrow 2-0 points victory at the IBJJF Pan-American Championships.

Reflecting on that loss in an interview with ONE Championship, Leon admitted it was a tough pill to swallow, particularly given Langaker’s vaunted guard game:

“As far as his guard, his guard kinda seems like it’s difficult. It’s frustrating. It was frustrating when I went against him in 2018.”

It’s no surprise Leon is eager to turn the tables against such an elite opponent. Widely regarded as one of Europe’s finest Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts, Langaker boasts an illustrious no-gi resume.

Since joining ONE, the Norwegian bruiser has delivered two impressive performances — a commanding decision victory over Renato Canuto and a spectacular heel-hook submission of sambo world champion Uali Kurzhev.

These wins earned Langaker a shot at Kade Ruotolo’s ONE lightweight submission grappling world title.

While he fell short, Langaker pushed the reigning champion to the brink in a match that earned 2023 Submission Grappling Fight of the Year honors.

He faced Ruotolo again in January 2024, only to come up short via another razor-thin decision.

---

Dante Leon eyes triumphant outcome in rematch

Dante Leon, however, is confident that this time will be different.

The 29-year-old enters the second encounter against Tommy Langaker riding high after an explosive promotional debut this past December. There, he dispatched seasoned black belt Bruno Pucci in just over two minutes with a seamless triangle-armbar finish.

Now climbing the ranks at breakneck speed, he has his sights set on a future showdown with Kade Ruotolo. But first, he’ll need to get past an old foe.

ONE Fight Night 27 will stream live on Prime Video, available for free to subscribers in the United States and Canada.