Kade Ruotolo was pushed to his limit at ONE Fight Night 11 on June 9. Norwegian submission ace Tommy Langaker nearly upset the American in their title tilt in Bangkok. However, a late submission attempt and aggressiveness saw the Southern Californian retain the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship.
ONE Star Kade Ruotolo Looks to Future in MMA
“Tommy was an amazing opponent. I knew he’d be a tough match leading into this. I think in a couple of more minutes, I definitely would have had him. I felt him really fading at the end, getting really tired. At the same time, I definitely made a handful of mistakes. And definitely, lots to fix leading into the next one,” Ruotolo told ONE Championship.
For Ruotolo, it was his first time competing inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. The historic venue has traditionally played host to Muay Thai bouts, but with ONE bringing its unique brand of martial arts to its hallowed halls, athletes and fans are being treated to MMA, kickboxing, and submission grappling. The experience is one that left a lasting impression on the young lightweight.
“The energy was pretty nuts. I love the venue. Honestly, it’s got to be one of my favorite venues that I’ve ever been to, iconic. And hopefully, the next time I step into this arena, it’ll be maybe for some MMA. I’m super excited, and hopefully, we can mix it up and, you know, really get the crowd on their feet,” Ruotolo said.
Leading into the event, Ruotolo teased a transition into mixed martial arts. The Atos BJJ star said that he has spent a lot of time training his other tools for a debut in the near future. However, he has not yet landed on any specific gym to hone his craft.
“There hasn’t been a specific set of people or coaches that I’ve been working with. I’ve kind of been weighing my options a bit. And also, we’ve had so many things- jiu-jitsu priorities in our life. It’s been hard to really dedicate all my time to a team, but I’ve been dealing with a lot of training down south with the Engstrom team in Mexico, man. I love those guys, lots of respect,” the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion stated.
Although he is happy to continue defending the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship, Ruotolo is definitely eyeing his first MMA bout later this year. With his athleticism and world-class ground game, he will be an immediate threat to anyone in the division. But Ruotolo’s support system wants him to be smart about transitioning into the sport.
And the young gun is listening. Ruotolo wants to ensure he is not overly reliant on his jiu-jitsu and can compete on the feet. If he can master those skills, the 20-year-old will be one of the most extraordinary talents anyone has ever seen grace the canvas.
“We don’t have anything signed, but 100% this year. I want it to be this year, no matter what. Like I said many times, if it was up to me, it would be next month. I’m urged, like, feeling really antsy to do it. A lot of my family, friends, and coaches around me are telling me to do it the smart way and make sure that you don’t have to rely on my jiu-jitsu. So you could maybe sleep someone on the feet and if you have to use jiu-jitsu, use it. I want to make sure I have all the tools so that we know when I do step on those mats in the MMA ruleset, I’m going to go straight to the top.
