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Matt Leighton

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Matthew Leighton or Matt Leighton is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Mark Vives (New Breed Training Centre) and a representative of Jared Weiner‘s TAC team when competing internationally. Leighton made his name as one of grappling’s rising stars while climbing the ranks of jiu-jitsu, by conquering important titles such as the IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2016) and IBJJF European Open Champion (2016), a status he later cemented as a black belt with repeated podium placements in jiu-jitsu’s international circuit.

Matthew Leighton Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Matthew W Leighton

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > George Gracie > Octávio de Almeida > Adilson de Souza > Mauricio Antonio de Souza > Mark Vives > Matthew Leighton

Main Achievements:

  • 1st Place IBJJF Chicago Summer Open (2018)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Atlanta Summer Open (2017)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Washington D.C. Open (2017)
  • 1st Place UAEJJF Canada National Pro (2018)
  • 1st Place UAEJJF Mexico National Pro (2018)
  • 1st Place UAEJJF Continental North American Pro (2018)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF Chicago Summer Open (2017)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF Pans Championship No-Gi (2017)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF Cincinnati Open (2017*)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF Chicago Spring Open (2018*)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2016 brown)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship No-Gi(2016 brown, 2015 purple)
  • 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2016 brown)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2015 purple)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2016* brown)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2017 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Open Guard

Weight Division: Peso Pesado

Team/Association: TAC Team

Matthew Leighton Biography

Matthew Leighton was born on August 1, 1992, in Chicago, IL – USA, growing up in a neighborhood located on the famous Windy City gangland region, the South Side, more specifically the South Shore.

During his formative years, Matt closely followed the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) which propelled his interest for martial arts. This curiosity would lead Leighton to a jiu-jitsu gym at the age of 17, a decision highly influenced by a few close friends who had started before him. As there were no BJJ gyms at South Shore, Matt started training in Downtown Chicago with a local Gracie Barra team affiliate led by two purple belts: ‘Beto’ Barros and Brick Welch.

One year into his training and Matt Leighton was already convinced he should be focusing all his energy towards grappling. With a tenacious approach to life, even at such a young age, Matt decided to the South Shore behind as soon as he finished high school and moved into the gym where he dedicated his time solely to his jiu-jitsu, an endeavor that started after his 18th birthday.

In around 2011 Adem Redzovic took over the school from Barros. It was he who awarded Matthew his blue and purple belts. Being totally embedded in jiu-jitsu and wishing to progress as far as he could in competition Leighton chose to switch academies in 2013, moving to a more sporting oriented gym, namely the New Breed Training Centre. There he started working with Mark Vives, the team’s leader.

As a brown belt, Matthew received an invitation from a good friend – and New Breed affiliate John Gutta to move to Iowa and coach BJJ. Gutta was making the transition from teaching at the University of Iowa BJJ Club and working at his own school (Tipping Point Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) in Cedar Rapids. The invitation meant Matt could continue training and coaching while making enough money to compete in the top grappling events around the US. With that in mind, the young athlete decided favorably on the move to Iowa which proved to be a successful decision.

On June 30, 2017, Matthew Leighton was awarded his black belt from his coach Mark Vives.

Matt Leighton Grappling Record

47 WINS
  • BY POINTS
    15 (32%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    0 (0%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    28 (60%)
  • BY DECISION
    4 (9%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY DQ
    0 (0%)

28 SUBMISSIONS WINS

#214eb8
Triangle
39
11
#86e620
Armbar
36
10
#5AD3D1
Submission
7
2
#d1212a
Triangle armbar
7
2
#fad11b
Wristlock
4
1
#f58822
Bow and arrow
4
1
#224aba
Choke from back
4
1
28
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
27 LOSSES
  • BY POINTS
    14 (52%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    1 (4%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    5 (19%)
  • BY DECISION
    7 (26%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY DQ
    0 (0%)

5 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES

#214eb8
Choke from back
40
2
#86e620
Triangle kimura
20
1
#5AD3D1
Triangle
20
1
#d1212a
Straight ankle lock
20
1
5
(100%) SUBMISSIONS

Matt Leighton Fight History

ID Opponent W/L Method Competition Weight Stage Year
13629Lucas BarbosaLucas BarbosaLPointsChicago SMO88KGF2017
13636Keenan CorneliusKeenan CorneliusLPointsChicago SMOABS4F2017
13976Breno BittencourtBreno BittencourtLPts: 5x0Atlanta SM OpenABS4F2017
14027Tex JohnsonTex JohnsonLReferee DecisionNo Gi Pan Am.O97KGF2017
14416Keenan CorneliusKeenan CorneliusLTriangle kimuraBJJ NY Pro94KGSF2017
14635Vitor OliveiraVitor OliveiraLPointsCincinnati Open88KGF2017
14639Silvio DuranSilvio DuranLReferee DecisionCincinnati OpenABSSF2017
15537Gerard LabinskiGerard LabinskiLReferee DecisionGrand Slam LDN110KGSF2018
15601Horlando MonteiroHorlando MonteiroLTriangleChicago Sp. Open94KGF2018
15609Gutemberg PereiraGutemberg PereiraLChoke from backChicago Sp. OpenABSSF2018
16180Adam WardzinskiAdam WardzinskiLPts: 7x0World Pro94KGSF2018
16185Basel FanousLReferee DecisionWorld Pro94KGRPC2018
16872Mahamed AlyMahamed AlyLPointsNY BJJ ProO94KGSF2018
17065Tim SpriggsTim SpriggsLReferee DecisionF2W 8294KGSPF2018
17535Leo NogueiraLeo NogueiraLPointsAtlanta SMOABSSF2018
19407Tex JohnsonTex JohnsonLStraight ankle lockSubSpectrumABSSPF2019
19643Matheus SpirandeliMatheus SpirandeliLPts: 6x2Pan American88KG8F2019
20441Devhonte JohnsonDevhonte JohnsonLReferee DecisionF2W 11185KGSPF2019
20531Dan BorovicDan BorovicLPts: 4x2Chicago SPO94KGF2019
22238Mauricio OliveiraMauricio OliveiraLReferee DecisionF2W 12988KGSPF2019
23591Roberto JimenezRoberto JimenezLChoke from backKansas Open94KGF2020
26204Arnaldo MaidanaArnaldo MaidanaLPointsNoGi Pan Am.97KG4F2021
26624Antonio ZuazoLN/ABoise NGO97KGF2021
26717Nathan MendelshonLPts: 0x0, AdvAmerican Nats94KG4F2021
27655Chris PassarrelloLPts: 3x2Pan American94KG4F2021
30906Marcos CarrozzinoLN/AIndianapolis Open100KGF2022
37709Paulo MerlinLPts: 17x0Atlanta WO100KGSF2023
13628Joseph HookerWArmbarChicago SMO88KGSF2017
13635Danilo LopesWArmbarChicago SMOABSR12017
13711Malden JokmanovicWArmbarWashington Open88KGSF2017
13712Christian DellevagWTriangleWashington Open88KGF2017
13843Nick CalvaneseNick CalvaneseWReferee DecisionF2W 49ABSSPF2017
13973Walnan PrestoWPointsAtlanta SM Open94KG4F2017
13974Jeff BoudreauxWArmbarAtlanta SM Open94KGSF2017
13975Josh BowlinWPointsAtlanta SM Open94KGF2017
14026Oleksandr KarliychukWArmbarNo Gi Pan Am.O97KGSF2017
14414Charles McGuireWArmbarBJJ NY Pro94KG4F2017
14536Diego GamonalWWristlockSan Antonio Open88KGF2017
14637Fabricio BarbarottiFabricio BarbarottiWTriangleCincinnati OpenABS4F2017
14985Pedro AzambujaWPts: 2x0US National Pro94KGF2018
15069Eduardo MiguelWTriangleMexico Pro94KGF2018
15219Kenneth BrownWPointsContinental Pro110KGRR2018
15220Tex JohnsonTex JohnsonWPointsContinental Pro110KGRR2018
15535Jamie HughesWPts: 6x4Grand Slam LDN110KG4F2018
15546Inacio NetoInacio NetoWReferee DecisionF2W 6694KGSPF2018
15551Matthew GoddenWSubmissionCanada Nat. Pro110KGSF2018
15552Amir YafawiWPts: 6x0Canada Nat. Pro110KGF2018
15956Jared DoppJared DoppWReferee DecisionSub SpectrumABSSPF2018
16312Tex JohnsonTex JohnsonWTriangle armbarF2W 7393KGSPF2018
16401Gabriel KitoberGabriel KitoberWTriangleMiami SPO88KGRR2018
16753Oscar HippWTriangleF2W 7894KGSPF2018
17208Pedro MiglianoWTriangle armbarChicago SM Open94KGSF2018
17209Andy KazigWArmbarChicago SM Open94KGF2018
17229Dante LeonDante LeonWArmbarF2W 84ABSSPF2018
17340Amir YafawiWPointsToronto Open94KGSF2018
17341Daniel HamptonWPointsToronto Open94KGF2018
17342Michael ZaniewskiWTriangleToronto OpenABS4F2018
17343Amir YafawiWPointsToronto OpenABSSF2018
17344Rodrigo ReisWTriangleToronto OpenABSF2018
17528Fabio MeloWSubmissionAtlanta SMO88KGSF2018
17529Vinicius GarciaVinicius GarciaWArmbarAtlanta SMO88KGF2018
17880Zigmars EvamoisWTriangleTwin Cities Open100KGF2018
17881Zigmars EvamoisWArmbarTwin Cities OpenABS4F2018
17882Gialysson FreitasGialysson FreitasWPts: 4x2Twin Cities OpenABSSF2018
17883Thomas McMahonWPts: 2x0Twin Cities OpenABSF2018
20529Josh CadenbachWTriangleChicago SPO94KGSF2019
21191Andre ReisWPts: 15x0Austin SMO94KGSF2019
21192Pedro MiglianoWBow and arrowAustin SMO94KGF2019
21288Melor SturuaWTriangleChicago SMO94KGF2019
26202Rida HaisamRida HaisamWPts: 2x0NoGi Pan Am.97KG4F2021
26615Antonio ZuazoWN/ABoise Open94KGF2021
27324Charles McGuireWTriangleKansas Open94KGSF2021
27325Adam BradleyWReferee DecisionKansas Open94KGF2021
27649Melor SturuaWChoke from backPan American94KG8F2021

Matthew Leighton vs Christian Dellevag

Matthew Leighton vs Diego Gamonal

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