‘Take Him Into Deep Waters’ – Kenta Iwamoto Vows To Break Dante Leon At ONE Fight Night 42
Stepping onto the global stage for his highly anticipated ONE Championship debut, Japanese grappling ace Kenta Iwamoto arrives bursting with motivation and a singular purpose.
The three-time ADCC Asia and Oceania Trials Champion aims to even the score with Canadian rival Dante Leon when the two face off in a rematch at ONE Fight Night 42: Mann vs. Dzhabrailov on Prime Video.
Their blockbuster welterweight submission grappling showdown goes down live in U.S. primetime on Friday, April 10, from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Iwamoto and Leon initially crossed paths in 2023 at the AIGA Champions League. At the time, the 29-year-old Japanese star was merely a rising competitor still carving out his reputation, while Leon already stood as an established force in BJJ circles. Although Iwamoto held his own and showcased flashes of sheer brilliance, he ultimately fell to the more seasoned Canadian via submission.
What followed was nothing short of a complete martial arts transformation. Embarking on a relentless pursuit of improvement, Iwamoto quickly announced himself as one of the hottest names in the sport. Over the past year, he has competed globally, meticulously refining his technical skill set and psychological approach to become a far sharper and more composed athlete.
The IGLOO Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and B-Team representative told onefc.com:
“When I first fought Dante in 2023, I wasn’t as experienced as I am now. But now, especially last year, I’ve been performing pretty well.
“I’ve been fighting big names. I’ve been consistently having good performances, and I’m getting comfortable actually showing my style and forcing my style on my opponents. I think that’s something different from the first time I faced him.”
Armed with the harsh lessons of their initial encounter, Iwamoto has dedicated himself entirely to his evolution.
The Chiba native has practically lived on the mats ever since, circling the globe to fine-tune every single facet of his craft.
Now, the formidable judoka arrives in Bangkok fully prepared to leave no doubt and exact the revenge he has long waited for:
“I believe it’s going to be very different. I think he’s going to be surprised by how much I’ve improved since we first fought.
“As soon as the match starts, I’ll try to explode into the action. I don’t feel out my opponents. I’ll just try to do as much work as possible within the time that I’m given. There’s no stalling. I’m always on the go.”
Iwamoto holds no illusions about the monumental challenge awaiting him. Leon is widely regarded as one of the most complete grapplers of his generation — a master tactician fully capable of threatening match-ending submissions from any position.
Yet, the Japanese warrior has built a remarkable career out of pushing elite opponents to their physical limits, and he firmly believes his punishing pace could be the ultimate difference-maker this time around.
The ADCC veteran declared:
“I’ve never seen Dante getting too tired during a match. But I kind of force my cardio on people. In that way, I drain myself, but I also drain my opponent as well. So in this match, I want to take him into deep waters. I want to make him work and make him tired.”
Iwamoto Determined To Seize His Moment On The Global Stage
Looking beyond his own rigorous preparation, Kenta Iwamoto knows that Dante Leon has also continued to evolve.
The Japanese grappler has spent countless hours meticulously breaking down his rival’s tendencies on tape, heavily sharpening his signature body-lock passing and suffocating top pressure to account for exactly where the Canadian poses the greatest threat.
The former experimental physics major turned mat technician explained:
“What worries me is that he has a very good leg lock game. He’s very good at sweeping from the x-guard. So that’s probably what I’m going to try to work on, how to defend and try to stay on top.
“He’s very good at submissions from all over the place, especially armbars and rear triangles. He seems calm during the match, but there comes a point when he explodes into those submissions. I’ll also have to be ready for that.”
All those gritty late nights obsessing over the sport he loves have inevitably led him to this massive moment, and making his promotional debut inside the world’s largest martial arts organization makes it all the more meaningful.
Iwamoto understands exactly what this grand stage demands, and he fully plans to seize the spotlight without a moment of hesitation.
The Japanese star offered:
“I tend to perform better under more eyes and more pressure. The bigger the stage is, the more I give everything and unleash all my potential.
“ONE Championship is one of the most professional stages in the grappling world right now. It’s a stage with millions of people watching. Under those circumstances, I find it worth putting everything on the line. I am ready to give a hundred percent.”
