ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo defeated Jozef Chen at ONE Fight Night 23 on Friday, July 5. After the event, he was not celebrating the huge win. After the event, the Atos BJJ star revealed to ONE Championship that he felt disappointed in his performance.
“I could have performed a lot better. It’s not a performance that I’m very proud of. I didn’t have the best camp, and I didn’t feel the best way going through the fight. It’s the fact that I won even on my worst day – it makes me happy. But that’s not a performance that I like to have, especially in a place like Lumpinee. I have so much respect for the people in the audience and the stadium, so I always do my best to give a good show,” Ruotolo said after ONE Fight Night 23.
The 186-pound catchweight contest got off to a slow start as both men felt each other out. After several minutes, Ruotolo scored a takedown. From that moment, the two tussled on the ground, with Chen defending Ruotolo’s attempts to pass and submit until the final bell. Still, Ruotolo walked away from ONE Fight Night 23 impressed with the teen star.
“You know, he looks like a nerd online, to be honest with you. But he’s a little bit stronger in person. But yeah, all respect to Jozef. He’s such a good representative of jiu-jitsu. [He has] really amazing technique, and [he’s] a really good kid. I’m really grateful to have the match with him,” the ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion remarked.
If there was something Ruotolo was excited about, it was his ability to overcome circumstances leading up to the match. The American grappling ace revealed he had been battling an illness throughout his camp and into the match. Disappointed he couldn’t finish, Ruotolo was still glad he could get the victory while not being 100%.
“Just within my camp, I was sick for most of it. And even before the fight, I really was feeling a bit off. I’ve been going through a couple little neck things. It has kind of been affecting a little bit of my nerve, the vagus nerve. I really wasn’t feeling great going into the match, but even on all my worst days, I just gotta man up and get it done, and that’s what I did. I’m stoked to get it done, and in my next performance, I will be better. I’m going to go home and get in front of everything that would prevent me from having a great performance in my next one. I’ll perform how I’m supposed to,” Ruotolo said.
The future is uncertain. Ruotolo has several names he wants to meet inside the ring, but he is also tempted by MMA. But with his successes piling up, he knows his status as one of martial arts’ biggest stars continues to grow.
“I can’t wait to do MMA, you know, I’m so excited to go. I’ve been watching my brother’s last fight, it got me so fired up. It was so rad to see him. We always grew up watching MMA fights, and we always knew that we wanted to be MMA fighters one day, too, not just [become] fighters, but the best. So I’m happy to get this win in jiu-jitsu. One more for the legacy. My legacy is not done. I want to be the best in the world of jiu-jitsu. No questions, no matter what. I know I’m on my way,” the American stated.
MMA is still in the plans, but grappling will continue to garner most of Ruotolo’s attention. That is because he deeply desires to leave a lasting legacy as one of the all-time greats. However, once he finishes up the work he has left to do, expect him to transition when the time is right.
“I think right now, we’re probably considered the best, my brother and I, for sure. But I want to be pound-for-pound, the best in the world. So I’m not going to stop until I get to that. But an MMA fight, that’s such a big thing for me, so I’m excited to be a part of the race there too,” Ruotolo said.
