Tom DeBlass

Tom DeBlass is an accomplished and well respected American BJJ practitioner. Competing in the light heavyweight division, DeBlass enters the sport with a strong grappling pedigree training under Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida (the latter of which he earned his black belt from). Among his credentials, DeBlass is a former No-GI BJJ World Champion, Pan Am Games Champion, and American National Jiu Jitsu Champion. He also participated in the finals of the 2009 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships, qualifying after he captured the North American East Coast Trials.

Entering the sport with a strong jiu jitsu base it’s not surprising that DeBlass is armed with a technically proficient ground game. DeBlass utilizes a good single leg takedown from in close and does a good job of setting up his takedowns and not rushing his attempts. Although DeBlass can be taken down himself, he’s extremely comfortable off his back and very poised overall from anywhere on the mat. DeBlass is a patient guard player who doesn’t expend any unnecessary energy, showing beautiful sweeps and a very composed guard game. He possesses a strong positional ground game, demonstrating good control as well as patient guard passing and top skills. DeBlass makes good use of his ground and pound, demonstrating good punches and knees from side mount, as well as nice straight punches from inside his opponents guard. An intelligent grappler all-around, DeBlass uses his striking to create grappling opportunities and pass his opponents’ guard.

DeBlass is relaxed and composed on his feet where he’s still developing as a striker. He’s good at gauging distance and staying out of opponents reach, and intelligently looks to establish his range and jab. DeBlass will work his jab-cross combination and is comfortable keeping the fight standing when he needs to. He doesn’t get wild or over-aggressive, although DeBlass is capable of letting his hands go when the appropriate situation presents itself. DeBlass has shown good power in his punching, having hurt and finished opponents with striking early in his fighting career. Tom’s striking seemed to get better each time he came out. Working with Mark Henry on a regular basis, you can see that Tom’s movements and footwork look eerily similar to that of Edgar’s. To some it may be a bit odd to see a light heavyweight moving as quickly as a light weight, but that is exactly the case here. Henry is clearly a cut above as a Boxing coach. It is evident with all the fighters he works with.

He improved to 5-0 on Friday night winning the Ring Of Combat Light Heavyweight Title.

He's 6-0 now after last night, he should be getting the call from Strikeforce or the UFC very soon.


Tom DeBlass vs. Davit Tkeshelashvili (ROC 170-lb. title fight)

Tkeshelashvili came out on fire, swinging wildly, but DeBlass dropped him with a short right hand. Tkeshelashvili controlled Deblass’ wrists from inside his own guard, but DeBlass got off some GNP, spun to back control, and secured a body lock. Tkeshelashvili powered out, grabbed a single, and made it back to his feet. Tkeshelashvili had DeBlass against the fence for a bit before referee Dan Miagliotta halted the action because Tkeshelashvili did not have his mouth guard in. The opening round ended with both men throwing bombs in the center of the cage, Tkeshelashvili kicking at the lead leg of DeBlass, and Deblass landing a knee to the body. In Rd. 2, Tkeshelashvili kicked to the body; DeBlass countered with a right hand and knee before angling away. DeBlass looked for a guillotine, but Tkeshelashvili escaped it. After Tkeshelashvili got top position, DeBlass swept him and fell into half-guard. Back on their feet, the two wrestled against the cage before the referee’s break. DeBlass landed a lead left hook. Tkeshelashvili kicked low and landed a left of his own. DeBlass stuffed a takedown attempt by Tkeshelashvili and had Tkeshelashvili against the fence. Tom landed a 1-2 combination and walked through a leg kick to end the round. In the third and final round, Tkeshelashvili, breathing heavilt, charged in and pressed DeBlass against the cage. Again DeBlass scored with the 1-2. DeBlass sprawled, spun to back control, sunk in both hooks, flattened Tkeshelashvili, dropped some right hands, mounted Tkeshelashvili, and controlled top position as Tkeshelashvili tried to keep him from posturing up and delivering more punches from the top. DeBlass stayed busy with short punches on the ground. Tkeshelashvili got back up eventually and muscled DeBlass against the cage. DeBlass stuffed his head and spun off the fence. With ten seconds left, the referee broke up the action against the fence, and the two battle-worn fighters squared off in the center or the ring before the finishing bell.Tom DeBlass retains his Ring of Combat LHW title via unanimous decision victory.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/1/19/2719260/tom-deblass-mma-world-mma-light-heavyweight-scouting-report

Tom DeBlass (6-0) is no stranger to the sweaty mats that fill every mixed martial arts gym in America. But that isn't because he's been part of the booming population of athletes in their twenties making the transition to the sport. He's taken a slightly different approach.

During his college years at Monmouth University in West Long Beach, New Jersey, DeBlass became enamored with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, so much, in fact, that he eventually found his way to UFC veteran Ricardo Almeida's academy. There, he forged what became a lifelong friendship with Almeida, training and eventually attaining a black belt under his guidance.

By 2006, DeBlass was the co-captain of Almeida's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition team. In the three years leading up the captaincy, he had won a number of NAGA and Grapplers' Quest championships, but grander accomplishments came later when DeBlass took home the 2009 East Coast ADCC North American Trials championship and a bronze medal at the 2009 No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships.

Naturally, DeBlass transitioned from pure grappling to full-fledged fighting in 2010, debuting professionally at Ring of Combat 30 last June against J.A. Dudley. He won by unanimous decision. A little over three months later, he stopped Tom Velasquez twenty seconds into the second round. Wins over Mitch Whitesel, Mike Stewart, and UFC veteran Sean Salmon increased his unblemished mark to five wins, and he capped off 2011 with a victory over Georgian M-1 veteran Davit Tkeshelashvili at Ring of Combat 38.

Much of DeBlass' success stems from the obvious advantage he possesses on the ground. He wields an effective top control game, using it to transition to dominant positions in which he can threaten by either submission or a prolonged beating.

What separates DeBlass from grappling-heavy prospects is his well-balanced skill-set. He isn't the most proficient striker by any means, but he's proven that he can beat opponents if the fight remains standing. With more training and focus on the technical aspects of striking, DeBlass could see more wins produced by knockout, especially if opponents disrespect the deceptive power he possesses.

DeBlass is also one of the hardest working prospects on the entire 2012 Scouting Report, training, at the very least, six days a week, two to three times a day, and traveling over 1000 miles in that time. He trains with Ricardo Almeida on all things MMA, fine tunes his boxing with Mark Henry, Frankie Edgar's boxing coach, and gets his strength and conditioning in with Brian Blue at All-Star Sports Academy. To say that DeBlass is prepared is an understatement.

I fully expect to see significant improvements in DeBlass' overall game when he steps into the cage against Tiger Schulmann's Carlos Brooks on February 2 at Ring of Combat 39. Depending how the title defense goes, it isn't unfathomable that DeBlass' phone will be ringing quickly afterward. He has all the tools to succeed at the highest levels. The only thing left is to prove it.

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