Kade Ruotolo says MMA debut has been 'long overdue': "I've been looking forward to this moment"

Kade Ruotolo is thrilled to finally open his mixed martial arts account, which gets underway against Blake Cooper at ONE 167 on June 7.

The ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion puts a pause on his jiu-jitsu expedition on the global stage to expand his resume into the MMA sphere in a moment he describes as an opportunity that has been a long time coming.

In an interview with Karyn Bryant, the Atos representative spoke about the joys and thrills he's been enjoying since securing his chance to debut in the discipline on the global stage.

Kade Ruotolo shared:

"It's unbelievable, you know. I can't even describe the feeling, honestly. It's something that's been so long overdue.

"It feels like I've been looking to this moment for what seems like a lifetime, you know. So I'm so stoked it's finally coming."

Watch the full interview here:

Should he take to the sport as he had done throughout his Brazilian jiu-jitsu career, great things are bound to follow suit for the submission specialist.

The one-half of the dynamic Ruotolo twins have broken records, collected titles, and finished at the top of the podium from the very start of his journey, and if he continues honing his craft in MMA, a chance at two-sport glory wouldn't seem like a far-fetched idea for the California native.

ONE 167 emanates live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, in U.S. primetime on Friday, June 7. Active Amazon Prime Video subscribers in North America can tune in for free.

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Kade Ruotolo credits Tye for his martial arts success

Success has followed Kade Ruotolo wherever he has gone.

Apart from being a ONE world champion, the ONE lightweight submission grappling kingpin also holds the accolade as the youngest ADCC world champion when he defeated Mica Galvao by an inside heel hook in the 77kg bracket of the tournament.

While he does accept praise for what he's accomplished, the Atos affiliate admits his success wouldn't have turned into reality without the help and guidance of his twin brother and ONE welterweight submission grappling world champion Tye.

In the same interview, he added:

"There's no way we'd be where we are today without each other. I always tell people that if you don't have a twin brother then you got to find a best friend that loves the same things.

"I think that's super important for everybody to find that partner."