>>51421841I genuinely think this is where it's all going. Leon is going to prioritise making the battle a fun spectacle and uses the chance to let Ash go all out, resulting in a tie or Ash winning. This gives room for Ash to still grow a lot and can have Leon reveal he was basically showing Ash off to the Paldea League so Ash can go there and train with Geeta's approval.
This enables Leon to lose and seek further growth (completing his arc) while also allowing Ash to still have a lot to learn as well as giving us the logic for why he goes to Paldea to learn more. Him competing in a league of Champion rank trainers who are all on the level of the Masters 8 is what will make him Leon-level or stronger without going all out with the gimmicks.