Tom DeBlass

Tom DeBlass (born May 14, 1982) is an American Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, submission grappler and mixed martial artist currently signed to ONE Championship. He has competed in the middleweight division for Bellator and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Thomas Carroll DeBlass
Born (1982-05-14) May 14, 1982
Bayville, New Jersey, USA
Other namesT-Bone
ResidenceForked River, New Jersey
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)
DivisionMiddleweight (2012–2013)
Light Heavyweight (2010–2012)
Reach73 in (190 cm)
StyleBrazilian jiu-jitsu
Fighting out ofForked River, New Jersey
TeamRicardo Almeida Jiu-Jitsu
Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Rank4th degree Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Almeida[1]
Years active2010–2013 (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total11
Wins9
By knockout4
By submission3
By decision2
Losses2
By decision2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2007 California -100kg (Brown)
World No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Gold medal – first place 2015 California+99kg (Absolute Masters 1)
Bronze medal – third place 2015 California+99kg (Black)
Bronze medal – third place 2013 California-97.5kg (Black)
Bronze medal – third place 2009 California+97.5kg (Black)
Gold medal – first place 2007 California-97.5kg (Brown)
Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Gold medal – first place2008 California-100 kg (Brown)
Pan No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Gold medal – first place 2013 New York, USA +97.5 kg (Black)

Background

DeBlass was a county champion long jumper at Central Regional High School, from which he graduated in 2000. He went on to graduate Monmouth University in 2004 with a degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. DeBlass was known primarily as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor winning such titles as Pan American and World Championships. He then fought professionally in Ring Of Combat. In only a year and a half, DeBlass captured two titles and got called up to fight in the UFC. In 2006 DeBlass opened his own Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy "Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu".[2] He has been an instructor to notable BJJ practitioners such as Garry Tonon. He is one of the only people in history to win the North American trials 3 times. In November 2017, Tom was elected as a Lacey Township board of education member.[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Ultimate Fighting Championship

After winning seven straight fights DeBlass was signed by the UFC and made his debut against Cyrille Diabate on one week's notice at UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva[4] and lost by Majority Decision.

In his second UFC fight DeBlass dropped down to the Middleweight division to fight against Riki Fukuda at UFC on Fuel TV: Franklin vs. Le[5] He lost by Unanimous Decision.

DeBlass announced his retirement from MMA after the bout with Fukuda stating, "After a lot of talk with my family and coaches, I have decided to retire from fighting and focus on my family, my academy and helping my students to achieve their goals. At this time, I feel it's best for me to give my time to others and spend more time with my family. The drive to keep fighting is not there any longer. I have an amazing academy and feel my students need my full attention."[6]

Bellator MMA

DeBlass returned from his short-lived retirement and made his Bellator debut against Carlos Brooks at Bellator 95 and won by TKO at the end of the second round after the doctor decided that Brooks could not continue.

DeBlass was scheduled to face former IFL Light Heavyweight Champion Vladimir Matyushenko at Bellator 108 on November 15, 2013.[7] However Matyushenko was forced out of the bout due to a broken hand. DeBlass instead fought fellow UFC veteran Jason Lambert at the event.[8] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Tom DeBlass was scheduled to fight Muhammed Lawal on September 5, 2014, at Bellator 123; however, Tom DeBlass suffered a knee injury and was forced off the card.[9] The bout with Lawal was rescheduled for Bellator 131 on November 15, 2014.[10] However, on November 1, it was announced that DeBlass had suffered a cut during training and had to withdraw from the bout.[11]

ONE Championship

On May 17, 2020, DeBlass came out of retirement and signed with ONE Championship.[12]

Personal life

Tom DeBlass runs his own BJJ and MMA gym and has coached numerous students to a high level, including fellow MMA fighter and ADCC veteran Garry Tonon. DeBlass lives in the Forked River section of Lacey Township, New Jersey.[13]

In November 2021, DeBlass released his biography and it quickly became a best-seller in the martial arts biography category on Amazon.[14] In it, he revealed that he had suffered sexual abuse as a child and explained how he was able to overcome that in order to succeed as a BJJ and MMA competitor.[15] DeBlass has also been open about his usage of Testosterone replacement therapy, and is a strong advocate for it.[16]

DeBlass arranged to have a live discussion with Rener Gracie on April 14, 2023 which would be centred around a Brazilian jiu-jitsu injury lawsuit that Gracie gave expert witness testimony in, resulting in a $46,000,000 payout.[17]

Philanthropy

DeBlass announced in February 2023 that he was working with other gym-owners across the United States in order to open a non-profit anti-bullying initiative, using Brazilian jiu-jitsu.[18]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts
  • Ring of Combat
    • ROC Heavyweight Championship (one time)
    • ROC Light Heavyweight Championship (one time)

Submission grappling
  • First person in NJ to win an Adult Black Belt Pan American title
  • Second person in NJ history to win ADCC North American Trials
  • 2007 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu National Champion
  • 2007 World Championships Mundials 3rd place Brown Belt[19]
  • 2007 No Gi World Champion Brown Belt[20]
  • 2008 Pan American Champion Brown Belt[21]
  • 2009 Abu Dhabi North American Trial Champion
  • 2009 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Veteran
  • 2009 Bronze Medalist No Gi World Champion Black Belt[22]
  • 2013 Grapplers Quest National Champ
  • 2013 No Gi Pan American Black Belt Ultra Heavy Champion[23]
  • 2013 No Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship Bronze medal Super Heavy Black Belt Adult[24]
  • 2013 Grapplers Quest Worlds Expert Division Ultra heavy Champion
  • 2014 Professional Grappling League Super Fight Champion (defeated 370 lb Mark Tarmann)[25]
  • 2014 ADCC NY super fight Champion (defeats Babalu Sobral)[26]
  • 2014 ADCC North American Champion 99 kg[27]
  • 2015 Defended The Good Fight Submission only Heavyweight Championship: 206+ lbs Defeated Rodrigo Correia (Submission 60:56)[28]
  • 2015 Conquest Submission series drew Joao Asiss[29]
  • 2015 Inducted into NJ Martial Arts hall of fame[30]
  • 2015 No Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship Black Belt Ultra Heavy Masters 1 Bronze medal[31]
  • 2015 No Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship Black Belt Open Class Masters 1 Champion[32]
  • 2016 ADCC US Nationals pro absolute champion
  • 2016 ADCC North American Trials +99 kg Champion[33]
  • 2017 Fight to Win 30 Main Event Winner over Ricco Rodriguez[34]
  • 2018 Fight to Win Pro 27 Main Event Winner over Lou Armezzani[35]
  • 2019 KASAI Pro Superfight Winner[36]

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
11 matches 9 wins 2 losses
By knockout 4 0
By submission 2 0
By decision 3 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 9–2 Jason Lambert KO (punch) Bellator 108 November 15, 2013 1 1:45 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Light Heavyweight bout
Win 8–2 Carlos Brooks TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 95 April 4, 2013 2 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Catchweight (188 lbs)
Loss 7–2 Riki Fukuda Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Franklin vs. Le November 10, 2012 3 5:00 Macau, SAR, China Middleweight debut
Loss 7–1 Cyrille Diabate Decision (majority) UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva April 14, 2012 3 5:00 Stockholm, Sweden Light Heavyweight bout
Win 7–0 Randy Smith Submission (heel hook) Ring of Combat 39 February 10, 2012 1 0:41 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Won ROC Heavyweight title
Win 6–0 David Tkeshelashvili Decision (unanimous) Ring of Combat 38 November 18, 2011 3 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 5–0 Mike Stewart TKO (punches) Ring of Combat 37 September 9, 2011 1 3:07 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 4–0 Sean Salmon Submission (achilles lock) Ring of Combat 35 April 8, 2011 1 0:57 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 3–0 Mitch Whitesel Decision (unanimous) Ring of Combat 33 December 3, 2010 3 4:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 2–0 Tom Velasquez TKO (punches) Ring of Combat 31 September 24, 2010 2 0:50 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 1–0 J.A. Dudley Decision (unanimous) Ring of Combat 30 June 11, 2010 2 4:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

References
  1. Burne, Kathrine. "Tom DeBlass Promoted To 4th Degree BJJ Black Belt". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  2. "Ocean County BJJ Instructors". Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  3. "NJ Election: Here are your Ocean County results". Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  4. "Tom DeBlass Steps In to Face Cyrille Diabate at UFC on Fuel 2 in Sweden". mmaweekly.com. April 3, 2012.
  5. "Tom DeBlass meets middleweight Riki Fukuda at UFC on FUEL TV 6". mmajunkie.com. August 22, 2012.
  6. "UFC Middleweight Tom Deblass Announces Retirement From MMA After Loss To Riki Fukuda". sherdog.com. November 14, 2012.
  7. "Vladimir Matyushenko, already booked for Bellator 99, reportedly fights Tom DeBlass at Bellator 108". bloodyelbow.com. August 8, 2013.
  8. "With Matyushenko injured, DeBlass and Lambert verbally agree to meet at Bellator 108". mmadiehards.com. September 27, 2013.
  9. "'King Mo' now expected to fight replacement Marcus Sursa at Bellator 123". MMAjunkie. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  10. MMAjunkie Staff (2014-09-22). "'King Mo' Lawal vs. Tom DeBlass added to Bellator 131 in San Diego". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-09-22.
  11. Staff (2014-11-02). "Nasty cut forces Tom DeBlass out of 'King Mo' fight at Bellator 131". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-11-01.
  12. "BJJ Legend Tom DeBlass Signs With ONE Championship". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. 2020-05-28. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  13. "NEW JERSEY MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME TO HONOR TOM DEBLASS WITH THE GRAPPLING AWARD". adcombat.com. February 15, 2016.
  14. "Tom DeBlass Book Becomes #1 Best Seller". 18 November 2021.
  15. "Tom DeBlass Opens up About Sexual Abuse in CNN Interview". 27 November 2021.
  16. "Tom DeBlass Opens up About TRT Usage". 17 July 2022.
  17. Phillips, Sabrina. "Tom DeBlass And Rener Gracie To Have Live Discussion About $46 Million BJJ Injury Lawsuit". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  18. Rollo, Ian. "Tom DeBlass Starts BJJ Anti-Bullying Initiative". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  19. "WORLD JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP 2007 – RESULTS". Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  20. "WORLD JIU-JITSU NO-GI CHAMPIONSHIP 2007 – RESULTS". Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  21. "PAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 – RESULTS". Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  22. "WORLD JIU-JITSU NO-GI CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 – RESULTS". Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  23. "Pan Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2013" (PDF).
  24. "World Jiu-Jitsu No Gi Championship 2013" (PDF). Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  25. "PGL VI • Tom DeBlass vs Mark Tarmann • Professional Grappling League".
  26. "Tom DeBlass Wins Superfight, Cedric Smith Takes Absolute Pro Finals, at ADCC in New York at MMA World Expo".
  27. "1st ADCC North American Qualifier 2014 – Results".
  28. "Past Events".
  29. "deblass v Joao Asiss".
  30. "Congressional Record Extensions of Remarks Articles". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2015-12-06.
  31. "World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi IBJJF Championship 2015" (PDF). Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  32. "World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi IBJJF Championship 2015" (PDF). Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  33. "1ST ADCC North-American Trials 2016 – Results".
  34. "Fight to Win Pro 30 Recap: Deblass, Ryan & Grippo All Victorious".
  35. "Fight to Win Pro 27 Results: Tom DeBlass wins in less than one minute". 29 April 2018.
  36. "Kasai Pro 6 Results: Unity Dominates in Atlantic City".
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