Conner DeAngelis

Darin Conner DeAngelis — widely known as DC — was born in South Carolina and developed an early connection to martial arts before setting his sights on one of the most competitive BJJ environments in the world. In 2015, DC made the pivotal decision to relocate to San Diego, a move that would fundamentally shape the trajectory of his grappling career. The relocation was heavily influenced by his former training partner Dominique Bell, whose presence in the city served as both a practical anchor and a competitive incentive.

San Diego's thriving BJJ scene — home to several world-class academies and a dense concentration of elite competitors — provided the rigorous environment DC needed to accelerate his development and measure himself against the best in the sport.

Upon arriving in San Diego, DC joined Atos, training out of the flagship Atos San Diego HQ — one of the most decorated and demanding BJJ academies in the world. Immersed alongside elite athletes in a culture defined by precision and high-level competition, DC absorbed the systematic, detail-oriented approach to grappling that has made Atos a consistent producer of world champions.

The intensity of that environment forged his competitive identity and accelerated his technical development in measurable ways. DC captured the IBJJF World Championship at blue belt, then backed it up with another world title at purple belt — establishing himself as one of the most promising competitive prospects within the Atos system. Those back-to-back titles reflected both his natural athleticism and the technical foundation built through years of grinding work at one of the sport's premier academies.

As DC matured as a competitor, his perspective on professional BJJ expanded beyond the mats to encompass the financial realities of sustaining a long-term career in the sport. That shift in thinking ran parallel to a deepening personal friendship with Keenan Cornelius, built on shared interests well outside of jiu-jitsu — including a mutual passion for computer games and collaborative online business ventures.

During the COVID-19 lockdown period of 2020, DC reconnected meaningfully with Cornelius, and their conversations prompted him to reassess both his competitive path and his financial future within the sport. Impressed by the innovative business model Cornelius had constructed around Legion American Jiu-Jitsu, DC made the decision to leave Atos and join Legion. The move carried as much strategic weight as it did athletic significance — by aligning himself with Cornelius and Legion, DC positioned himself to learn from a forward-thinking blueprint for building a sustainable livelihood in professional BJJ, while continuing to evolve as a competitor under one of the sport's most creative and influential figures.