Kade Ruotolo caps off 2022 with Submission Grappling Athlete of the Year award in ONE Championship

Teenage superstar Kade Ruotolo has won the Submission Grappling Athlete of the Year award in ONE Championship to cap off his 2022.

The teenage prodigy earned his stripes with a string of dramatic victories last year against fellow Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Matheus Gabriel, sambo world champion Uali Kurzhev, and martial arts veteran Shinya Aoki. In the process, he became the inaugural ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion and successfully defended his belt once.

He also won gold at the 2022 ADCC World Championship, becoming the youngest champion in the competition's history. Clearly, Ruotolo has surpassed all expectations in the past year.

Out of all the unforgettable matches Kade Ruotolo had at ONE Championship, none could compare to Kade Rutotolo’s clash with Russian sambo stylist Uali Kurzhev at ONE on Prime Video 3.

With the inaugural ONE lightweight world title up for grabs, Kade ramped up the aggression and went on full-attack mode. Quickly taking control of Kurzhev’s back in the opening minutes, the Russian spent most of the fight defending Ruotolo's overwhelming submission attempts, including buggy and rear-naked chokes.

Just before the halfway mark of their 10-minute bout, Kade Ruotolo tapped out the Russian stalwart with a shocking heel-hook submission. In doing so, he became the first ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion.

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'Buchecha' dazzled by Kade Ruotolo and twin brother Tye’s evolution in Brazilian jiu-jitsu

BJJ wizard Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida has been dazzled by Kade Ruotolo and his twin brother Tye's promising careers in ONE Championship.

Since joining the promotion last year, the young prodigies have taken the submission grappling world by storm with their innovative presence and contagious personalities inside the circle.

What was once considered boring in the BJJ world, Kade and Tye, along with other emerging grapplers in the promotion, have made the “gentle art” a more exciting and watchable experience.

Dazzled by what the teenage stars have accomplished, ONE heavyweight contender Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida is thrilled to see the younger generation create their own history.

He told ONE:

“Both Kade and Tye, their difference is that they are not afraid to take risks. They are not afraid of falling into a bad position. That’s what makes them the fighters that they are, that everyone wants to watch. People know it’s going to be a show.”