A championship that changes the grappling scene: what to expect in 2025
6 mins read

A championship that changes the grappling scene: what to expect in 2025


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

Grappling has always been full of exceptional talent and it’s time to show them to the world. Today we talk about what we can expect from ONE Championship in 2025, specifically in the world of submission wrestling.

A unique approach to grappling

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

Additionally, ONE Championship applies the MMA weight class category when dividing grapplers. As they look to add more talent to the roster, ONE Championship currently hosts three submission world champions: Tye Ruotolo (men’s welterweight division), Kade Ruotolo (men’s lightweight division), and Mayssa Bastos (women’s atomweight division). They also allow their current fighters to compete in submission wrestling, which opens the door for them to become dual-sport athletes.

A star formation

ONE Championship’s recent talent acquisition has shocked many fans around the world. Multiple-time ADCC World Champion Giancarlo Bodoni, widely known for his technical approach and comprehensive submission hunting skills, who is also a student of Jiu-Jitsu genius John Danaher, has signed the agreement to compete under the ONE Championship banner.

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

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

Incredibly, both Dante Leon and Fabricio Andrey won over Giancarlo Bodoni. Will we ever see a rematch in the openweight division of Giancarlo Bodoni against Dante Leon or Fabricio Andrey on the ONE global stage? Maybe we’ll see it soon enough.

The Young Guns

Younger talent, Cole Abate, has also joined the ONE Championship roster. At just 20 years old, Cole Abate has already won IBJJF World and Pan Championships, in addition to his decorated achievements as a color belt and youth. Cole is a product of BJJ greats Guilherme and Rafael Mendes and 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 will soon see another women’s submission wrestling division added to ONE.

The return of the goat

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

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

Raise fighting standards

The inclusion of Tom DeBlass and Leo Vieira as key decision makers represents more than just recognition of their legendary status. It’s a forward-thinking move designed to raise fighting standards 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 a seasoned MMA veteran, is known for his technical precision and dedication to nurturing talent. Likewise, Vieira, multiple world champion and co-founder of Checkmat, is synonymous with innovation and excellence in BJJ. Together, they set a standard of excellence that is simply hard to beat.

Conclusion

As ONE Championship approaches 2025, the organization is set to solidify its position as a 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 everywhere can expect a year full of action, excitement and celebration of martial arts in its purest form. We’re excited to see what’s in store this 2025 and beyond!

You might also be interested in:

What can we expect from the legendary Marcelo Garcia in ONE Championship?



Evolve Mixed Martial Arts® is Asia’s leading martial arts championship brand. It has authentic world champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, mixed martial arts, boxing, wrestling and No-Gi Grappling. Named the #1 martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, ESPN StarSports, Tokyo Times and many other leading authorities, Evolve MMA aims to provide the best martial arts instruction available anywhere on the planet.





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