Anthony Leone

Anthony Leone (born May 27, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Bantamweight division. A professional competitor since 2008, he has competed for Strikeforce, the WEC, Bellator MMA, and Absolute Championship Berkut.

Background Leone went to Center Moriches High School in New York and then went to college at The University of Hawaii at Hilo.

At the age of 20, Leone spent 11 months training alongside at the B.J. Penn Mixed Martial Arts academy in Hilo, Hawaii. Anthony splits his training time between Phuket Top Team in Phuket, Thailand, and Team Bomb Squad in New York.

His brother Andrew Leone is a MMA fighter as well and competes in the Flyweight division.

Mixed martial arts career After going 8–0 in regional shows, Leone signed with World Extreme Cagefighting. Leone lost to Renan Barão at WEC 49 and was released from the promotion.

Bellator MMA Leone then signed with the Bellator MMA and came in to fight as a late replacement. He lost to Georgi Karakhanyan at Bellator 28.

He faced Jeff Lentz at Bellator 44 on May 14, 2011, and lost via unanimous decision.

Leone faced Claudio Ledesma at Bellator 68 on May 11, 2012. Leone won the fight via split decision.

Leone defeated former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky at Bellator 83 via split decision.

On July 31, 2013, Leone defeated Frank Baca at Bellator 97 in the Semifinals of the Bellator 2013 Summer Series Bantamweight Tournament via rear naked choke.

On October 4, 2013, Leone was defeated by Rafael Silva at Bellator 102 in the Finals of the Bellator 2013 Summer Series Bantamweight Tournament via unanimous decision. However, Silva suffered a knee injury and Leone was called to step in and fight Eduardo Dantas for the Bellator Bantamweight Championship on March 7, 2014, at Bellator 111. After winning the first round, Leone lost in the second round due to a rear-naked choke submission.

Leone has since part ways with Bellator.

Absolute Championship Berkut Leone faced Chechen super star MMA prospect Rasul Albaskhanov at ACB 49: Rostov onslaught on 26 November 2016. He won the fight via submission in the third round.

Championships and accomplishments Bellator MMA Bellator 2013 Summer Series Bantamweight Tournament Runner-Up

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Denis Lavrentyev TKO (corner stoppage) RCC Intro 3

Ekaterinburg, Russia Win

Magomed Ginazov Decision (unanimous) ACB 85: Leone vs. Ginazov

Rimini, Italy Win

Dean Garnett Submission (guillotine choke) |ACB 76: Young Eagles 23

Gold Coast, Australia Returned to Bantamweight. Loss

Askar Askarov Submission (twister) ACB 58: Young Eagles 17

Khasavyurt, Russia Win

Rasul Albaskhanov Submission (guillotine choke) ACB 49: Rostov Onslaught

Rostov-on-Don, Russia Win

Shamil Magomedov Submission (rear-naked choke) WFCA 16: Grand Prix Akhmat

Grozny, Russia Grand Prix Akhmat 2016 Tournament Quarterfinals; Flyweight debut. Loss

Eduardo Dantas Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 111

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Rafael Silva Decision (unanimous) Bellator 102

Visalia, California, United States Win

Frank Baca Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 97

Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Win

Zach Makovsky Decision (split) Bellator 83

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Claudio Ledesma Decision (split) Bellator 68

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Bantamweight debut. Win

Paul Gorman Submission (armbar) New England Fights: Fight Night

Lewiston, Maine, United States Loss

Brylan Van Artsdalen Technical Submission (guillotine choke) XFE: Cage Wars 8: House of Pain

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Bill Jones Decision (unanimous) World Championship Fighting 11

Wilmington, Massachusetts, United States Loss

Jeff Lentz Decision (unanimous) Bellator 44

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Loss

Josh LaBerge TKO (doctor stoppage) Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva

East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States Loss

Georgi Karakhanyan Decision (unanimous) Bellator 28

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Loss

Renan Barão Submission (armbar) WEC 49

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Catchweight (142 lbs) bout. Win

Tateki Matsuda Decision (split) Xtreme Championship Fight League 2

Lowell, Massachusetts, United States Win

Doug Sonier Submission (armbar) Blood Brothers MMA 2

Akwesasne, New York, United States Win

Dustin Pague Submission (choke) PA Fighting Championships 1

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Chris Grandmaison Decision (unanimous) World Championship Fighting 6

Wilmington, Massachusetts, United States Win

Pat White Submission (rear-naked choke) WCA: Pure Combat

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Jeff Denz Decision (unanimous) RW 2: Rage in the Cage

Irving, New York, United States Win

Chris Correira Submission (armbar) Cage Fight: MMA 3

Bedford, New Hampshire, United States Win

Tyler Kahihikolo Decision ROTR: Beatdown 7

Hawaii, United States