ONE Championship appoints Tom DeBlass as Vice President of Grappling

Tom DeBlass, a beloved figure in the mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu community, is joining the world's largest martial arts organization.

ONE Championship officially welcomed DeBlass to its leadership ranks by appointing him as Vice President of Grappling, a post he'll be sharing with another iconic BJJ figure Leo Vieira.

A third-degree BJJ blackbelt, DeBlass has been a fixture in some of ONE's biggest submission grappling matches, where he served as an analyst for live broadcasts.

The 42-year-old American will now bring his expertise to a more influential role in the home of martial arts, particularly its growing submission grappling divisions.

Plus, Tom DeBlass has extensive years as a competitor in both MMA and BJJ and fully fits into the promotion's ethos and values.

In an Instagram post, DeBlass shared his excitement for his new position:

"ONE has the biggest martial arts reach in the world, and we are truly excited to push grappling into the mainstream even more. We believe that grappling athletes should have a world-class platform to perform on, and ONE has the ability to do that."

He continued:

"I have been a part of the biggest organizations in the world, and by far, I feel the most home with @onechampionship. @leovieirabjj and I will work tirelessly to find the most deserving athletes, and give them the most deserving chances."

---

Tom DeBlass says it's a blessing to be part of the world's largest martial arts organization

In the same Instagram post, Tom DeBlass thanked ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong for his trust and promised to fulfill his new duties to the best of his abilities. He wrote:

"When @yodchatri presented me with this opportunity, I immediately said yes. What a blessing for me. People work their entire lives to earn a position such as this, and that is exactly what I did."

He added:

"While I never thought to be the Vice President of grappling in the biggest martial arts organization in the world, I have totally dedicated my life to Jiu-Jitsu, and every day, God proves to me that my efforts are rewarded. I have fallen short so many times, and I understand the road will be bumpy again, yet we don't stop. Ever."