Leonardo Santos (fighter)
Encyclopedia
Leonardo Silva dos Santos (born on February 5, 1989) is a Brazil
ian mixed martial artist
, who fights at lightweight
. He has fought the likes of Takanori Gomi
, Jean Silva
and Jason Ball
.
In 1995 Mr Alexander (Leo’s Coach) joined arms with Dedé Pederneiras to make one of the strongest teams in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu the world had seen, Nova Uniao, and Leo Santos soon was one of Nova Uniao’s star competitors.
In 2002 Leo stopped competing at the Mundial (CBJJ World Championships) as this competition did not offer prize money to its competitors. This was something that a lot of fighters pressed for and which catapulted the rise of CBJJO, Leo Santos started competing in CBJJO’s tournaments only (with Gi) and was undefeated for over 5 years in that organization becoming widely considered by the media and the followers of the sport as one of the top 3 lightweights in BJJ at the time.
In 2006 after a short spell helping his brother Wagnney with his academy in Canada, Leonardo started dedicating himself fully to MMA having fought consistently for several different organizations.
, who at the time was the Shooto
World Welterweight (154 lb) Champion, though the belt was at stake in this bout. The fight ended with a Majority Decision win for Gomi.
After this bout he returned to BJJ full time, winning the World Cup Championship 4 times between 2002 and 2005. In 2006 after a short spell helping his brother Wagnney with his academy in Canada, Leonardo started dedicating himself fully to MMA. He complied a 8-3 record with major promotions like Shooto and World Victory Road
.
at BAMMA 6
, defeating Jason Ball
via unanimous decision.
He was scheduled to face Rob Sinclair
at BAMMA 7
, however he pulled out of the fight, refusing to fly over from Paris
as he knew he would not make weight and knew he would not be able make the full amount of money from competing anyway.
|Win
|align=center|9–3
|Jason Ball
|Decision (Unanimous)
|BAMMA 6
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8–3
|Sotaro Yamada
|DQ (Knees to the Groin)
|World Victory Road
Sengoku Raiden Championship 14
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:56
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7–3
|Kiuma Kunioku
|Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
|World Victory Road
Sengoku Raiden Championship 12
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:06
|N/A
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|6–3
|Kazunori Yokota
|Decision (Split)
|World Victory Road
Sengoku - Eighth Battle
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|N/A
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|6–2
|Danilo Noronha
|Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
|Shooto
- Brazil 10
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:20
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5–2
|Corey Edwards
|KO (Head Kick)
|Shooto
- Brazil 9
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:21
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4–2
|Alan Lopes
|Submission (Triangle Choke)
|Shooto
- Brazil 8
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:10
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3–2
|Christian Lopez
|Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
|Shooto
- Brazil 7
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:40
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2–2
|Rafael Bastos
|Decision
|MTL - Mo Team League 2
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|N/A
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|1–2
|Jean Silva
|KO (Punch)
|Super Challenge 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:12
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1–1
|Gabriel Moraes
|Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
|Guarafight 3
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|N/A
|N/A
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|0–1
|Takanori Gomi
|Decision (Majority)
|Shooto
- Treasure Hunt 7
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|N/A
|
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
, who fights at lightweight
Lightweight (MMA)
The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb...
. He has fought the likes of Takanori Gomi
Takanori Gomi
, is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gomi is a former Shooto Welterweight Champion and was the last and only Pride Lightweight Champion. He is also a four-time All Japan Combat Wrestling champion. During his time in Pride he was considered...
, Jean Silva
Jean Silva
Jean "White Bear" Silva is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He held the Cage Rage lightweight title until he lost it to Vitor Ribeiro via arm triangle choke at Cage Rage 13...
and Jason Ball
Jason Ball
Jason Ball is a Western Australian Australian rules football player with the Sydney Swans of the AFL, and is affectionately known as "Bally" by fans and media....
.
Early life and BJJ
Leonardo Santos was born on the 5th of February 1980 in Rio de Janeiro. He started training Jiu Jitsu when he was 4 years old under the legendary trainer Wendell Alexander (Co-Founder of Nova Uniao) in Sao Joao de Meriti (Rio de Janeiro) at the Mello Tenis Club. Although Leo as a kid had other interests (mainly soccer) and didn’t enjoy training all that much, he felt obliged to train as his older cousin and brother (MMA fighter Wagnney Fabiano) were avid Jiu Jitsu practitioners. With time Leo Santos started enjoying the benefits of Jiu Jitsu and also started enjoying the BJJ routine, success in BJJ Comps came with this new found love for the gentle art.In 1995 Mr Alexander (Leo’s Coach) joined arms with Dedé Pederneiras to make one of the strongest teams in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu the world had seen, Nova Uniao, and Leo Santos soon was one of Nova Uniao’s star competitors.
In 2002 Leo stopped competing at the Mundial (CBJJ World Championships) as this competition did not offer prize money to its competitors. This was something that a lot of fighters pressed for and which catapulted the rise of CBJJO, Leo Santos started competing in CBJJO’s tournaments only (with Gi) and was undefeated for over 5 years in that organization becoming widely considered by the media and the followers of the sport as one of the top 3 lightweights in BJJ at the time.
In 2006 after a short spell helping his brother Wagnney with his academy in Canada, Leonardo started dedicating himself fully to MMA having fought consistently for several different organizations.
Early career, Shooto and Sengoku
Santos make his MMA debut against rising undeafted Japanese superstar Takanori GomiTakanori Gomi
, is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gomi is a former Shooto Welterweight Champion and was the last and only Pride Lightweight Champion. He is also a four-time All Japan Combat Wrestling champion. During his time in Pride he was considered...
, who at the time was the Shooto
Shooto
Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...
World Welterweight (154 lb) Champion, though the belt was at stake in this bout. The fight ended with a Majority Decision win for Gomi.
After this bout he returned to BJJ full time, winning the World Cup Championship 4 times between 2002 and 2005. In 2006 after a short spell helping his brother Wagnney with his academy in Canada, Leonardo started dedicating himself fully to MMA. He complied a 8-3 record with major promotions like Shooto and World Victory Road
World Victory Road
World Victory Road is a defunct Japanese Mixed Martial Arts organization which promoted the Sengoku Raiden Championship in Japan. The organization was formed in 2007 following the purchase of Pride FC by Zuffa. It operated in conjunction with the Japan Mixed Martial Arts Federation...
.
BAMMA
He made his BAMMABAMMA
The British Association of Mixed Martial Arts is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United Kingdom. It is considered by many as the biggest MMA promotion in the country. It premièred on June 27, 2009 and was shown on the television channel Bravo...
at BAMMA 6
BAMMA 6
BAMMA 6: Watson vs. Rua was a mixed martial arts event held by the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts on 21 May 2011 at the Wembley Arena in London, England.-Background:BAMMA 6 was announced during the television presentation of BAMMA 5....
, defeating Jason Ball
Jason Ball
Jason Ball is a Western Australian Australian rules football player with the Sydney Swans of the AFL, and is affectionately known as "Bally" by fans and media....
via unanimous decision.
He was scheduled to face Rob Sinclair
Rob Sinclair
Rob Sinclair is an English mixed martial artist, who fights at Lightweight. He is the current BAMMA Lightweight Champion and the former Cage Gladiators Lightweight Champion...
at BAMMA 7
BAMMA 7
BAMMA 7: Trigg vs. Wallhead was a mixed martial arts event held by the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts on 10 September 2011 at the NIA Arena in Birmingham, England.-Background:...
, however he pulled out of the fight, refusing to fly over from Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
as he knew he would not make weight and knew he would not be able make the full amount of money from competing anyway.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Championships
- 4x World Cup Champion (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
- Silver World Medalist (2001 Black Belt Division)
- Bronze World Medalist (2000 Black Belt Division)
- ADCC Brazilian Trial Champion (2005)
- 4th Place in the ADCC Finals (2005)
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Win
|align=center|9–3
|Jason Ball
Jason Ball
Jason Ball is a Western Australian Australian rules football player with the Sydney Swans of the AFL, and is affectionately known as "Bally" by fans and media....
|Decision (Unanimous)
|BAMMA 6
BAMMA 6
BAMMA 6: Watson vs. Rua was a mixed martial arts event held by the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts on 21 May 2011 at the Wembley Arena in London, England.-Background:BAMMA 6 was announced during the television presentation of BAMMA 5....
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8–3
|Sotaro Yamada
|DQ (Knees to the Groin)
|World Victory Road
World Victory Road
World Victory Road is a defunct Japanese Mixed Martial Arts organization which promoted the Sengoku Raiden Championship in Japan. The organization was formed in 2007 following the purchase of Pride FC by Zuffa. It operated in conjunction with the Japan Mixed Martial Arts Federation...
Sengoku Raiden Championship 14
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:56
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7–3
|Kiuma Kunioku
Kiuma Kunioku
is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently fighting at welterweight.His hometown is Osaka, but he is currently living and training in Tokyo as freelance...
|Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
|World Victory Road
World Victory Road
World Victory Road is a defunct Japanese Mixed Martial Arts organization which promoted the Sengoku Raiden Championship in Japan. The organization was formed in 2007 following the purchase of Pride FC by Zuffa. It operated in conjunction with the Japan Mixed Martial Arts Federation...
Sengoku Raiden Championship 12
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:06
|N/A
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|6–3
|Kazunori Yokota
Kazunori Yokota
is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka. Yokota became famous fighting in the Japanese MMA promotion DEEP, and eventually debuted WVR Sengoku, his only fight in a cage was his MMA debut, which was in GCM Demolition in 19 September 2004 against Keita Nakamura, the fight resulted in a...
|Decision (Split)
|World Victory Road
World Victory Road
World Victory Road is a defunct Japanese Mixed Martial Arts organization which promoted the Sengoku Raiden Championship in Japan. The organization was formed in 2007 following the purchase of Pride FC by Zuffa. It operated in conjunction with the Japan Mixed Martial Arts Federation...
Sengoku - Eighth Battle
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|N/A
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|6–2
|Danilo Noronha
|Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
|Shooto
Shooto
Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...
- Brazil 10
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:20
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5–2
|Corey Edwards
|KO (Head Kick)
|Shooto
Shooto
Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...
- Brazil 9
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:21
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4–2
|Alan Lopes
|Submission (Triangle Choke)
|Shooto
Shooto
Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...
- Brazil 8
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:10
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3–2
|Christian Lopez
Christian Lopez
Christian Lopez is a retired French international footballer who played defender. He earned 39 caps for the France national football team from 1975 to 1982, and participated in two World Cups . During his career he played for AS Saint-Étienne and Toulouse FC .-References:...
|Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
|Shooto
Shooto
Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...
- Brazil 7
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:40
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2–2
|Rafael Bastos
Rafael Bastos
Rafael Bastos is a Brazilian footballer. He currently plays for CFR Cluj.-Career:His previous club is Esporte Clube Bahia in Brazil. He won the league, called the Baiano League in 2007 with Esporte Clube Bahia. In August 2007 he was signed by C.F...
|Decision
|MTL - Mo Team League 2
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|N/A
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|1–2
|Jean Silva
Jean Silva
Jean "White Bear" Silva is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He held the Cage Rage lightweight title until he lost it to Vitor Ribeiro via arm triangle choke at Cage Rage 13...
|KO (Punch)
|Super Challenge 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:12
|N/A
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1–1
|Gabriel Moraes
|Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
|Guarafight 3
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|N/A
|N/A
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|0–1
|Takanori Gomi
Takanori Gomi
, is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gomi is a former Shooto Welterweight Champion and was the last and only Pride Lightweight Champion. He is also a four-time All Japan Combat Wrestling champion. During his time in Pride he was considered...
|Decision (Majority)
|Shooto
Shooto
Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...
- Treasure Hunt 7
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|N/A
|