Kade Ruotolo says he’ll only put BJJ on the back burner if he’s “getting closer to fighting” for MMA gold

Kade Ruotolo is slowly carving his path in MMA, but he remains a true student of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

The reigning ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion is headed into the second MMA match of his career when he takes on Ahmed Mujtaba on the stacked ONE 169 card on November 8, US primetime, at the historic Lumpinee Stadium.

In an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, one-half of the famed Ruotolo brothers said he's still focused on his continued growth as a BJJ artist.

Kade Ruotolo added that while he's training for MMA, the only time he'll take a break from BJJ is if he's challenging for an MMA world title in ONE Championship.

"I don't think there will be a time when I completely ever leave jiu-jitsu. But when we're getting to a time where we’re getting closer to fighting for the title, probably just put jiu-jitsu on the back burner a little bit as far as competitions."

Ruotolo, whose twin brother Tye is the ONE welterweight submission grappling world champion, made his MMA debut at ONE 167 against Blake Cooper in June this year.

Determined to showcase his arsenal, Ruotolo initially threw hands with Cooper in the opening sequences of their Bangkok duel. Ruotolo, however, ultimately went to his grappling base when he found the opening to secure the rear-naked choke for the first-round submission win.

ONE 169 is ONE Championship's final numbered event of the year and is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

Watch Ruotolo's entire interview below:

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Kade Ruotolo taking a steady approach in his MMA career

Kade Ruotolo isn't keen on rushing his development in MMA.

The reigning ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion said he wants to absorb as much MMA experience before challenging the top lightweight fighters in ONE Championship.

While he's confident he can beat any fighter in his weight class, Ruotolo said his goal is to improve with each fight he signs up for.

Ruotolo said in an interview with ONE Championship:

"To be entirely honest with you, like in the most humble way possible, I'm a very mentally strong person, in a sense where like, if you were to take the champion in the division and tell me if you were to fight him tomorrow, I feel like I'd get the W, you know. But it's not about skyrocketing to the top as much as it is gaining those experiences."