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
-
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
-
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
Matt Leighton Fight History
ID | Opponent | W/L | Method | Competition | Weight | Stage | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13629 | Lucas BarbosaLucas Barbosa | L | Points | Chicago SMO | 88KG | F | 2017 |
13636 | Keenan CorneliusKeenan Cornelius | L | Points | Chicago SMO | ABS | 4F | 2017 |
13976 | Breno BittencourtBreno Bittencourt | L | Pts: 5x0 | Atlanta SM Open | ABS | 4F | 2017 |
14027 | Tex JohnsonTex Johnson | L | Referee Decision | No Gi Pan Am. | O97KG | F | 2017 |
14416 | Keenan CorneliusKeenan Cornelius | L | Triangle kimura | BJJ NY Pro | 94KG | SF | 2017 |
14635 | Vitor OliveiraVitor Oliveira | L | Points | Cincinnati Open | 88KG | F | 2017 |
14639 | Silvio DuranSilvio Duran | L | Referee Decision | Cincinnati Open | ABS | SF | 2017 |
15537 | Gerard LabinskiGerard Labinski | L | Referee Decision | Grand Slam LDN | 110KG | SF | 2018 |
15601 | Horlando MonteiroHorlando Monteiro | L | Triangle | Chicago Sp. Open | 94KG | F | 2018 |
15609 | Gutemberg PereiraGutemberg Pereira | L | Choke from back | Chicago Sp. Open | ABS | SF | 2018 |
16180 | Adam WardzinskiAdam Wardzinski | L | Pts: 7x0 | World Pro | 94KG | SF | 2018 |
16185 | Basel Fanous | L | Referee Decision | World Pro | 94KG | RPC | 2018 |
16872 | Mahamed AlyMahamed Aly | L | Points | NY BJJ Pro | O94KG | SF | 2018 |
17065 | Tim SpriggsTim Spriggs | L | Referee Decision | F2W 82 | 94KG | SPF | 2018 |
17535 | Leo NogueiraLeo Nogueira | L | Points | Atlanta SMO | ABS | SF | 2018 |
19407 | Tex JohnsonTex Johnson | L | Straight ankle lock | SubSpectrum | ABS | SPF | 2019 |
19643 | Matheus SpirandeliMatheus Spirandeli | L | Pts: 6x2 | Pan American | 88KG | 8F | 2019 |
20441 | Devhonte JohnsonDevhonte Johnson | L | Referee Decision | F2W 111 | 85KG | SPF | 2019 |
20531 | Dan BorovicDan Borovic | L | Pts: 4x2 | Chicago SPO | 94KG | F | 2019 |
22238 | Mauricio OliveiraMauricio Oliveira | L | Referee Decision | F2W 129 | 88KG | SPF | 2019 |
23591 | Roberto JimenezRoberto Jimenez | L | Choke from back | Kansas Open | 94KG | F | 2020 |
26204 | Arnaldo MaidanaArnaldo Maidana | L | Points | NoGi Pan Am. | 97KG | 4F | 2021 |
26624 | Antonio Zuazo | L | N/A | Boise NGO | 97KG | F | 2021 |
26717 | Nathan Mendelshon | L | Pts: 0x0, Adv | American Nats | 94KG | 4F | 2021 |
27655 | Chris Passarrello | L | Pts: 3x2 | Pan American | 94KG | 4F | 2021 |
30906 | Marcos Carrozzino | L | N/A | Indianapolis Open | 100KG | F | 2022 |
37709 | Paulo Merlin | L | Pts: 17x0 | Atlanta WO | 100KG | SF | 2023 |
13628 | Joseph Hooker | W | Armbar | Chicago SMO | 88KG | SF | 2017 |
13635 | Danilo Lopes | W | Armbar | Chicago SMO | ABS | R1 | 2017 |
13711 | Malden Jokmanovic | W | Armbar | Washington Open | 88KG | SF | 2017 |
13712 | Christian Dellevag | W | Triangle | Washington Open | 88KG | F | 2017 |
13843 | Nick CalvaneseNick Calvanese | W | Referee Decision | F2W 49 | ABS | SPF | 2017 |
13973 | Walnan Presto | W | Points | Atlanta SM Open | 94KG | 4F | 2017 |
13974 | Jeff Boudreaux | W | Armbar | Atlanta SM Open | 94KG | SF | 2017 |
13975 | Josh Bowlin | W | Points | Atlanta SM Open | 94KG | F | 2017 |
14026 | Oleksandr Karliychuk | W | Armbar | No Gi Pan Am. | O97KG | SF | 2017 |
14414 | Charles McGuire | W | Armbar | BJJ NY Pro | 94KG | 4F | 2017 |
14536 | Diego Gamonal | W | Wristlock | San Antonio Open | 88KG | F | 2017 |
14637 | Fabricio BarbarottiFabricio Barbarotti | W | Triangle | Cincinnati Open | ABS | 4F | 2017 |
14985 | Pedro Azambuja | W | Pts: 2x0 | US National Pro | 94KG | F | 2018 |
15069 | Eduardo Miguel | W | Triangle | Mexico Pro | 94KG | F | 2018 |
15219 | Kenneth Brown | W | Points | Continental Pro | 110KG | RR | 2018 |
15220 | Tex JohnsonTex Johnson | W | Points | Continental Pro | 110KG | RR | 2018 |
15535 | Jamie Hughes | W | Pts: 6x4 | Grand Slam LDN | 110KG | 4F | 2018 |
15546 | Inacio NetoInacio Neto | W | Referee Decision | F2W 66 | 94KG | SPF | 2018 |
15551 | Matthew Godden | W | Submission | Canada Nat. Pro | 110KG | SF | 2018 |
15552 | Amir Yafawi | W | Pts: 6x0 | Canada Nat. Pro | 110KG | F | 2018 |
15956 | Jared DoppJared Dopp | W | Referee Decision | Sub Spectrum | ABS | SPF | 2018 |
16312 | Tex JohnsonTex Johnson | W | Triangle armbar | F2W 73 | 93KG | SPF | 2018 |
16401 | Gabriel KitoberGabriel Kitober | W | Triangle | Miami SPO | 88KG | RR | 2018 |
16753 | Oscar Hipp | W | Triangle | F2W 78 | 94KG | SPF | 2018 |
17208 | Pedro Migliano | W | Triangle armbar | Chicago SM Open | 94KG | SF | 2018 |
17209 | Andy Kazig | W | Armbar | Chicago SM Open | 94KG | F | 2018 |
17229 | Dante LeonDante Leon | W | Armbar | F2W 84 | ABS | SPF | 2018 |
17340 | Amir Yafawi | W | Points | Toronto Open | 94KG | SF | 2018 |
17341 | Daniel Hampton | W | Points | Toronto Open | 94KG | F | 2018 |
17342 | Michael Zaniewski | W | Triangle | Toronto Open | ABS | 4F | 2018 |
17343 | Amir Yafawi | W | Points | Toronto Open | ABS | SF | 2018 |
17344 | Rodrigo Reis | W | Triangle | Toronto Open | ABS | F | 2018 |
17528 | Fabio Melo | W | Submission | Atlanta SMO | 88KG | SF | 2018 |
17529 | Vinicius GarciaVinicius Garcia | W | Armbar | Atlanta SMO | 88KG | F | 2018 |
17880 | Zigmars Evamois | W | Triangle | Twin Cities Open | 100KG | F | 2018 |
17881 | Zigmars Evamois | W | Armbar | Twin Cities Open | ABS | 4F | 2018 |
17882 | Gialysson FreitasGialysson Freitas | W | Pts: 4x2 | Twin Cities Open | ABS | SF | 2018 |
17883 | Thomas McMahon | W | Pts: 2x0 | Twin Cities Open | ABS | F | 2018 |
20529 | Josh Cadenbach | W | Triangle | Chicago SPO | 94KG | SF | 2019 |
21191 | Andre Reis | W | Pts: 15x0 | Austin SMO | 94KG | SF | 2019 |
21192 | Pedro Migliano | W | Bow and arrow | Austin SMO | 94KG | F | 2019 |
21288 | Melor Sturua | W | Triangle | Chicago SMO | 94KG | F | 2019 |
26202 | Rida HaisamRida Haisam | W | Pts: 2x0 | NoGi Pan Am. | 97KG | 4F | 2021 |
26615 | Antonio Zuazo | W | N/A | Boise Open | 94KG | F | 2021 |
27324 | Charles McGuire | W | Triangle | Kansas Open | 94KG | SF | 2021 |
27325 | Adam Bradley | W | Referee Decision | Kansas Open | 94KG | F | 2021 |
27649 | Melor Sturua | W | Choke from back | Pan American | 94KG | 8F | 2021 |
Matthew Leighton vs Christian Dellevag
Matthew Leighton vs Diego Gamonal