Tye Ruotolo predicts how Kade Ruotolo will end his world title match against Uali Kurzhev

While the match between Kade Ruotolo and Uali Kurzhev presents a clash of styles, Tye Ruotolo believes that it’s his twin brother’s versatility that will prove to be the difference-maker on fight night.

Kade and Kurzhev will battle for the right to be called the inaugural ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion at ONE on Prime Video 3 this Friday at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

In an interview with ONE Championship, Tye Ruotolo advised his brother not to take Kurzhev lightly as the Russian is a four-time sambo world champion. Nonetheless, he believes that his brother has the arsenal to subdue the samba star and lock in whatever submission holds arise from the situation. Tye Ruotolo said:

“I think Kade’s gonna D’Arce him, get on his head. Kade has probably some of the best D’Arce chokes in the world and I don't think he’s very used to defending the way Kade’s gonna attack him. So I think Kade’s gonna get on his head sooner or later, or maybe a heel hook as well. Kade’s game is so versatile, he’s got submissions from all over so we’ll see what he’ll catch him with.”

Kade Ruotolo is one of the brightest stars across any sport in ONE Championship, having scored a unanimous decision win over Japanese legend Shinya Aoki in his debut ONE 157 this past May.

Following his victory over Aoki, Kade made history at the 2022 ADCC World Championships when his gold medal win in the 77-kg division made him the competition’s youngest world champion. The 19-year-old submitted Mica Galvao with a tight heel hook in the finals.

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Tye Ruotolo feels he and Kade are at the forefront of submission grappling’s development

Submission grappling has always been a niche sport, but it's gradually entering the mainstream due to ONE Championship’s aggressive push of the discipline. The promotion doesn't just hold submission grappling matches in its card, it has also established world titles for the sport. Mikey Musumeci was its first world champion when he captured the ONE flyweight submission grappling world title at ONE on Prime Video 2 just a few weeks back.

Kade, meanwhile, will take on Kurzhev for the inaugural ONE lightweight submission grappling world title at ONE on Prime Video 3. Tye Ruotolo, who owns a submission grappling win over Garry Tonon at ONE 157, feels that he and his brother are helping with getting the sport noticed by a larger audience.

In an interview with ONE Championship, Tye Ruotolo said that seeing 17-time BJJ world champion Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida compete in MMA is a testament to how submission grappling is getting bigger.

“Seeing 'Buchecha' get signed to ONE and the first few guys that did get signed to ONE, I was just super excited and hopeful for jiu-jitsu as a whole. Because we’re elevating the sport. You know, I just got the most I’ve ever been paid in my life. And it’s only going to be getting better and better for the jiu-jitsu community as ONE comes to North America and as ONE keeps growing.”