Monday night at 8pm, be sure to tune in for our newest episode of Hope Saves the Day on Autism Radio Tonight's Show is with Host Paul CiminsWho Sits down and Speaks with Tom Deblass about His Anti Bullying Campaign on how he uses Martial Arts Influences To Teach Young Children on How to be Ambassadors for Children with Special needs.He Graduated from Monmouth University in 2004 with a degree in elementary and special education.Tom Speaks about How martial Arts can Benefit Children with Special Needs.
Tom DeBlass (born May 14, 1982) is an American mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Tom is currently competing in the middleweight division for Bellator, He has also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Background
Tom was a County Champion Long Jumper in High School graduating from Central Regional High School in 2000. He went on to Graduate Monmouth University in 2004 with a degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. Tom 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. DeBlass opened his own Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, in 2006, Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His Academy host's 300 students.[1]He has produced his own World Champion student's, such as Garry Tonon, Tom's first student to compete in ADCC, October 20th, taking place in China.
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 weeks notice at UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva 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 [3] 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.”
Bellator Fighting Championships
DeBlass returned from his short-lived retirement and made his Bellator debut against Carlos Brooks at Bellator 95and 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 108on November 15, 2013. However Matyushenko was forced out of the bout due to a broken hand. DeBlass instead fought fellow UFC veteran Jason Lambert at the event.He won the fight via knockout in the first round.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ring of Combat
- ROC Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- ROC Light Heavyweight Championship (one time)
Jiu Jitsu
- 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[7]
- 2007 No Gi World Champion Brown Belt[8]
- 2008 Pan American Champion Brown Belt[9]
- 2009 Abu Dhabi North American Trial Champion
- 2009 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Veteran
- 2009 Bronze Medalist No Gi World Champion Black Belt[10]
- 2013 Grapplers Quest National Champ
- 2013 No Gi Pan American Black Belt Ultra Heavy Champion[
To learn More About His School Please Visit