Leonardo Leite

Last updated
Leonardo Leite
Born (1978-03-23) March 23, 1978 (age 45)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Other namesLeo
Nationality Brazilian
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight185.5 lb (84.1 kg; 13.25 st)
Division Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
TeamRizzo RVT
Years active2013–2022
Mixed martial arts record
Total13
Wins11
By knockout3
By submission3
By decision5
Losses2
By decision2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Leonardo "Leo" Leite (born March 23, 1978, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a retired Brazilian judoka, jiu jitsu practitioner, and mixed martial artist.

Contents

Martial arts career

Judo

Leite began his career in judo in 1984 at the Federal Club under Omar Brazil. In 1988, at age 10, he transferred to the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo and began to participate in official competitions of the Judo Federation of Rio de Janeiro and the Brazilian Judo Confederation. In 1997, he achieved a place in the Brazilian junior national team, and in 1998 the first call for leading the Brazilian judo team, which he continued until 2012. Leite also works as a TV commentator for Judo and MMA events.

Jiu Jitsu

Parallel to his judo career, in 1993 he began his career in jiu-jitsu under the supervision of Alexandre Paiva, who coaches him still today. In 1999, Leite competed in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Jiu Jitsu's most important competition, for the first time. He was a brown belt then and was expecting to compete in that division. However, his coach Paiva had other plans for him, and two weeks before the event he promoted him to black belt. Leite won the competition, winning in the final against a legend in the sport, Mario Sperry.

MMA

In 2013, Leite started his MMA career. Competing in his native Brazil, he amassed a record of 4–0 in his first year in the sport.

In 2014, Leite began fighting for Legacy Fighting Championship in the United States. He won the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight titles while with the promotion.

In 2017, Leite entered Bellator MMA with an undefeated 10–0 record. In his first fight for the promotion, he faced Phil Davis on November 3, 2017 at Bellator 186. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. [1]

In his second fight for the promotion, Leite faced Chris Honeycutt on July 13, 2018 at Bellator 202. He again lost the fight by unanimous decision. [2]

After almost 4 years away due to a nearly fatal case of tuberculosis and a leg injury that required a long stay in the hospital, [3] Leite returned for his farewell bout at LFA 132 on May 13, 2022 against Patrick Quadros. He won the bout via unanimous decision and retired from MMA. [4]

Accomplishments

Judo

Jiu Jitsu

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
13 matches11 wins2 losses
By knockout20
By submission40
By decision52
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win11–2Patrick QuadrosDecision (unanimous) LFA 132 May 13, 202235:00 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilReturn to Light Heavyweight.
Loss10–2 Chris Honeycutt Decision (unanimous) Bellator 202 July 13, 201835:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Loss10–1 Phil Davis Decision (unanimous) Bellator 186 November 3, 201735:00 University Park, Pennsylvania, United States Light Heavyweight bout.
Win10–0Moise RimbonDecision (majority)Fight2Night 1November 4, 201635:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win9–0Julio JuarezSubmission (rear-naked choke)Iron FC 10: POPSeptember 3, 201612:23 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilWon the Iron FC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win8–0Matt MastersonTKO (punches)Final Fight Championship 25June 10, 201631:13 Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Win7–0Ryan SpannDecision (unanimous) Legacy Fighting Championship 48November 13, 201555:00Lake Charles, Louisiana USADefended the Legacy FC Middleweight Championship.
Win6–0Larry CroweTKO (knee & punches) Legacy Fighting Championship 39February 27, 201522:19 Houston, Texas USA Middleweight debut; won the Legacy FC Middleweight Championship.
Win5–0Myron DennisSubmission (rear naked choke) Legacy Fighting Championship 35September 26, 201444:50 Tulsa, Oklahoma USAWon the Legacy FC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win4–0Elias MendoncaSubmission (rear naked choke)BC: Bitetti Combat 20June 7, 201411:07 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win3–0Fabio MarongiuDecision (unanimous)WOCS: Watch Out Combat Show 31November 1, 201335:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win2–0Diosman Nery de JesusDecision (unanimous)BC: Bitetti Combat 17September 6, 201335:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win1–0Alessandro MacedoSubmission (rear naked choke)Fight Against CrackJune 23, 201313:25 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil


Submission grappling record

ResultWeight categoryOpponentMethodEventYearStage
Win100KG Mario Sperry Points: 4x0BJJ World Championship1999Final
LossAbsoluteFernando MargaridaPoints: 9x2BJJ World Championship2000Semifinal
WinOver 100KGAurelio FernandesPointsBJJ World Championship2000Final
WinOver 100KGRonald BauerPointsBJJ World Championship2003Round1
WinOver 100KGFrancisco FernandesN/ABJJ World Championship20034F
WinOver 100KGMarcio CorletaPoints: 4x2BJJ World Championship2003Semifinal
LossOver 100KG Fabricio Werdum PointsBJJ World Championship2003Final
WinOver 100KGAurelio FernandesPoints: 2x0BJJ World Cup2003Semifinal
WinOver 100KG Fabricio Werdum N/ABJJ World Cup2003Final
WinOver 88KGMarco VilelaArmbarTeam Nationals2004Final
WinOver 100KGAdriano PiresPointsBJJ World Cup2005Semifinal
WinOver 100KGGabriel NapaoPoints: 4x0BJJ World Cup2005Final
WinOver 100KGMauro JorgeSubmissionBJJ World Championship20064F
WinOver 100KGLucio RodriguesRNCBJJ World Championship2006Semifinal
LossOver 100KG Gabriel Gonzaga Points: 4x0BJJ World Championship2006Final
WinOver 100KGAsa FullerChokeBJJ World Championship2008Round1
LossOver 100KG Roger Gracie Cross chokeBJJ World Championship2008Final
LossOver 99KGCharles CachoeiraPointsCapital Challenge2008Semifinal
WinOver 99KG Fabricio Werdum PointsCapital Challenge20083PLC
LossAbsolute Braulio Estima PointsCapital Challenge2008Final
Loss99KGLeo ChocolateReferee DecisionADCC Trials2009Semifinal
LossOver 100KGT. GaiaChokeBrasileiro2012Semifinal
WinOver 100KGUnknownN/ABJJ World Championship2012Round2
WinOver 100KGR. EvangelistaPoints: 2x2, AdvBJJ World Championship20124F
WinOver 100KGAlexander TransPoints: 2x0BJJ World Championship2012Semifinal
LossOver 100KG Marcus Almeida ArmbarBJJ World Championship2012Final
Loss94KG Rodolfo Vieira ArmbarCopa Podio2013SPF
WinAbsoluteAnderson LimaN/ABJJ World Championship2013RDS
WinAbsoluteDJ JacksonPointsBJJ World Championship2013RDS
WinAbsolute Andre Galvao Referee DecisionBJJ World Championship20134F
LossAbsolute Rodolfo Vieira ArmbarBJJ World Championship2013Semifinal
Loss100KGJoao RochaChoke from backBJJ World Championship20134F
LossAbsolute Rodolfo Vieira Points: 14x2Copa Podio2013Semifinal


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References

  1. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2017-11-03). "Bellator 186 Results: Phil Davis Cruises Past Leo Leite". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
  2. ↑ "Bellator 202 results: Chris Honeycutt dominates Leo Leite with trio of 30-25 scores". MMA Junkie. 2018-07-14. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
  3. ↑ Cruz, Guilherme (2022-05-27). "Victorious in retirement fight, Leo Leite explains how Dana White helped him become two-division MMA champ". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
  4. ↑ "LFA 132: aos 44 anos, Léo Leite vence em sua despedida do MMA; Ítalo Gomes supera Melk Costa". tatame.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-05-14. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
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