Career
A professional competitor since 2008, Leone has also formerly competed for the WEC and Strikeforce. At the age of 20, Leone spent 11 months training alongside at the Bachelor of Journalism 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 New York
Leone was a silver-medallist at the Pan-American Games in Number-Gi Jiu-Jitsu and placed Bronze in the World Number-Gi Championships.
The wrestler and jiu jitsu player brought strong grappling credentials with him into his Mixed Martial Arts career, and embarked on an eight fight winning streak before the big promotions took note and snapped up the youngster, then based in Hawaii at BJ Penn’s Academy. 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 Mobile Marketing Association
Leone then signed with the Bellator Mobile Marketing Association 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 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.
Bellator Mobile Marketing Association
Bellator 2013 Summer Series Bantamweight Tournament Runner-Up.
