ONE Championship Changing The Grappling Scene: What To Expect In 2025

As you may have noticed, ONE Championship has recently filled its roster with many submission grappling standouts. From the likes of ADCC champions and medalists Giancarlo Bodoni and Dante Leon, world champions Fabricio Andrey and Cole Abate, and the return of one of BJJ GOATs, Marcelo Garcia, it is safe to say that ONE Championship has some of the strongest grapplers this 2025.

Grappling has always been filled with exceptional talent, and it’s time to showcase them to the world. Today, let’s discuss what we can expect from ONE Championship in 2025, particularly in the world of submission grappling.

A Unique Approach To Grappling

To say that ONE Championship’s approach to grappling is unique is definitely an understatement. Competitors can compete in the circle, creating a dynamic stage to showcase their skills while encouraging exciting and highly aggressive matches.

Additionally, ONE Championship applies the MMA weight class category when dividing the grapplers. As they look to add more talents to the roster, ONE Championship currently is currently home to three submission grappling world champions: Tye Ruotolo (Men’s Welterweight division), Kade Ruotolo (Men’s Lightweight division), and Mayssa Bastos (Female’s Atomweight division). They’ve also allowed their current fighters to compete in submission grappling, which opens up the door for them to be two-sport athletes.

A Star-Studded Line-Up

The recent acquisition of talents by ONE Championship has shocked many grappling fans around the world. Multiple-time ADCC World Champion Giancarlo Bodoni, widely known for his technical approach and complete submission-hunting skills, who also happens to be a student of the Jiu-Jitsu genius John Danaher, has signed the deal to compete under the ONE Championship banner. 

Alongside Giancarlo is the Canadian powerhouse Dante Leon. Dante Leon is considered the most accomplished Canadian grappler and one of the best grapplers of the current generation. Dante is a multiple-time IBJJF World and Pans Champion, a two-time ADCC World Championship medalist, and has over a decade of competition experience in the IBJJF circuit. 

Another on the list is the “Hokage,” Fabricio Andrey. Fabricio Andrey is an IBJJF World Champion, European, and Brazilian National Champion, both as a black belt and in his colored belt years. At only 24 years of age, you can expect to see an electrifying style of grappling from the Brazilian human highlight reel.

Shockingly, both Dante Leon and Fabricio Andrey have wins over Giancarlo Bodoni. Will we ever see an open-weight division rematch of Giancarlo Bodoni against Dante Leon or Fabricio Andrey under the ONE global stage? We may possibly see soon enough. 

The Young Guns

The youngest talent, Cole Abate, has also joined the ONE Championship roster. At only 20 years of age, Cole Abate has already won the IBJJF World and Pan Championships, alongside his decorated accomplishments as a colored belt and juvenile. Cole is a product of BJJ greats Guilherme and Rafael Mendes and has received his black belt from them under the Art of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ) banner.

As Tye and Kade look to defend their ONE Submission Grappling titles, excitement continues to build in the women’s division, with Mayssa Bastos aiming to dominate her opponents. It’s also likely that we’ll see another women’s submission grappling division added to ONE soon.

The Return Of The GOAT

Regarded by many as the greatest Jiu-Jitsu competitor of all time, Marcelo Garcia is coming out of retirement to compete yet again, now under the ONE grappling global stage. Marcelo is a 5-time IBJJF World Champion and a 4-time ADCC World Champion, making him one of the most accomplished grapplers in history. What makes Marcelo great is his ability to excel in the absolute division, winning championships in both Gi Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Grappling, while competing in his weight class and beyond.

Winning championships during his time was no easy feat, as all divisions were filled with grappling aces, which would later set a blueprint for modern grappling to follow. What sets Marcelo apart from the competition is the high submission rate against world-class opponents. Marcelo would later become a figure for grapplers to follow, using his patented techniques like the butterfly guard, single leg X-guard, guillotine choke (widely known as “Marcelotine”), and his arm-drag to back take that led him to clinching various world championship titles.

Elevating Grappling Standards

The inclusion of Tom DeBlass and Leo Vieira as key decision-makers represents more than a mere acknowledgment of their legendary status. It’s a forward-thinking move designed to elevate the standards of grappling within the organization. Both DeBlass and Vieira bring decades of experience as competitors, mentors, and thought leaders in the martial arts community. Their unique perspectives on what it takes to compete and succeed at the highest level promise to add invaluable depth to ONE’s grappling division.

DeBlass, a household name in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and an accomplished MMA veteran, is known for his technical precision and dedication to nurturing talent. Similarly, Vieira, a multiple-time world champion and co-founder of Checkmat, is synonymous with innovation and excellence in BJJ. Together, they establish a standard of excellence that is simply difficult to beat.

Conclusion

As ONE Championship moves into 2025, the organization is set to solidify its position as the global leader in martial arts. With the strategic addition of grappling legends and young stars, fans can expect an even greater emphasis on the art of submission grappling. 

As the promotion embraces this new era of leadership and talent, fans around the world can look forward to a year packed with action, excitement, and the celebration of martial arts in its purest form. We are excited to see what’s in store this 2025 and beyond!

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