“Explore every route to victory” - Kade Ruotolo examining all his options ahead of highly-awaited super-fight with Mikey Musumeci

ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion Kade Ruotolo is surveying every possible way to get the better of challenger Mikey Musumeci in their much-awaited super title fight next month in the United States. He said he would not hesitate to exhaust everything at his disposal to retain his title.

The 21-year-old Atos standout will defend his world title for the fourth time at ONE 168 in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. on Sept. 6. He is up against his flyweight counterpart Musumeci in an all-champion clash that serves as the co-main match of the event happening at the 21,000-seater Ball Arena.

In an interview with ONE Championship, Kade Ruotolo spoke about how he stacks up against who many consider as a smooth tactician and the confidence he would be bringing come fight night.

The Califonia native said:

"So some people may view that (Musumeci's skills) as more technical. Like sticking to his guns and sticking to his techniques. Or it's his strategy, maybe. And some people may view it as my game is more technical as trying to explore every route to victory, either with passing, submitting from the guard, or from the top."

Kade Ruotolo retained his world title back in January with a decision win over Tommy Langaker of Norway in their title rematch. He, however, was last in action in June, where he made his MMA debut and won over American Blake Cooper by submission (rear-naked choke) in the opening round.

New Jersey native Musumeci, meanwhile, is climbing three weight divisions higher to realize his goal of becoming a double ONE world champion. While he is up against a bigger opponent in Ruotolo, he is undeterred by it as he has competed in weight divisions higher than his, including in his last match in June, where he submitted Gabriel Sousa of Brazil in a bantamweight grappling clash.

ONE 168: Denver will be airing live and for free in U.S. primetime to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription. Tickets for the event are sold on Ticketmaster.

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Kade Ruotolo mindful of Mikey Musumeci's leg locks at ONE 168

Kade Ruotolo is preparing for everything that Mike Musumeci would be dishing out in their title clash at ONE 168: Denver on Sept. 6. He, however, is paying close attention to his opponent's vaunted leg locks.

The reigning ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion shared this in an interview on the MightyCast podcast of Demetrious Johnson, highlighting how the leg locks of 'Darth Rigatoni' are as danegrous as they come.

He said:

"He can leg-lock anyone in the world. Someone with those finishing mechanics, if he gets on your legs, he can finish anyone. So it still excites me in a way. I'm ready for it. I'm excited."

ONE 168 will mark the fourth time that Ruotolo will be defending the world title he won in October 2022.