Kade Ruotolo has just become the inaugural ONE Championship Lightweight submission grappling world champion after taking on Sambo world champion Uali Khurzev and forcing him to tap with a heelhook. This makes Ruotolo the second submission grappling world champion on the ONE Championship roster after Mikey Musumeci won the Flyweight title against Cleber Sousa previously. Ruotolo was interviewed after the match, and he explained that this win is one of the biggest in his career to date:
“Winning this belt for ONE is right there with my ADCC title. I’m not going to put one over the other.”
Kade Ruotolo was asked how he found the match against Uali Khurzev, and he mentioned that there was a few things that surprised him even though he did end up getting the win regardless:
“I knew he was going to be fairly strong, and he came at me very hot – and that foot sweep did surprise me. I didn’t think it would hit so clean. I got right back up to my feet though and started pressing forward. I knew that would probably come again.”
After the match, Ruotolo named fellow BJJ stars Tainan Dalpra and Tommy Langaker as two opponents he’d love to face soon. Failing that, he’s also hoping that his brother Tye Ruotolo wins his next match on a future ONE Championship card so that he could make his next title-defence a family affair:
“He’s got two wins over me. So I’d love to get one back.”
ONE on Prime Video 3 Full Results
John Lineker v Fabricio Andrade ends in a No Contest (Round 3, 2:44)
Regian Eersel defeats Sinsamut Klinmee via Decision – Split
Eersel wins the ONE Championship Lightweight Muay Thai world championship
Kade Ruotolo defeats Uali Khurzev via Submission – Heelhook (4:26)
Ruotolo wins the ONE Championship Lightweight Submission Grappling world championship
Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong defeats Mohammed Boutassaa via Decision – Unanimous
Shamil Gasanov defeats Kim Jae Woong via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (Round 1, 2:09)
Jeremy Miado defeats Danial Williams via TKO – Punches (Round 3, 0:31)
Taiki Naito defeats Amir Naseri via Decision – Unanimous
Mehdi Zatout defeats Asa Ten Pow via TKO – Retirement (Round 1, 3:00)
Noelle Grandjean defeats Lea Bivins via TKO – Body Punch (Round 1, 4:01)
The full ONE on Prime Video 3 event replay, including Kade Ruotolo winning the ONE Championship Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship, will be available to watch on Amazon Prime, click here to subscribe and watch.
