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Mikey Musumeci has high expectations for his showdown with Kade Ruotolo.
Returning to The Mile High City for the first time in over a year, ONE Championship will bring some of the biggest matchups in promotional history when ONE 168: Denver emanates from Ball Arena on Friday, September 6.
In addition to a can't-miss Muay Thai main event between ONE world champions Jonathan Haggerty and Superlek Kiatmoo9, BJJ fans will be treated to a clash of the champions as ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion Mikey Musumeci moves up three weight classes to challenge reigning and defending ONE lightweight submission grappling world titleholder Kade Ruotolo.
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Speaking with Cageside Press ahead of their highly anticipated encounter, Musumeci is confident that both competitors will put on a fast and furious pace that will deliver the goods and end in one of three ways—tap, snap, or nap.
He said:
"It's going to be two guys swinging for [submissions] the whole time. So I think it's going to be the most exciting fight in jiu-jitsu history."
Combined, Ruotolo and Musumeci have eight finishes inside the Circle and have finished their last six opponents inside the distance.
Mikey Musumeci and Kade Ruotolo have smashed their way through the competition
After earning a couple of unanimous decisions against Cleber Sousa and Gantumur Bayanduuren, Mikey Musumeci has been on an absolute tear, scoring four straight finishes, including stoppages against interim ONE strawweight MMA world champion Jarred Brooks, Japanese legend Shinya Aoki, and longtime foe Gabriel Sousa.
Not to be outdone, Kade Ruotolo has put away his last two opponents inside the Circle—the first being Brazilian grappling star Francisco Lo. Ruotolo followed that up with a first-round submission victory over Blake Cooper in his mixed martial arts debut at ONE 167 in June.
Earlier this month, Ruotolo headed to Las Vegas to compete in the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational. There, the Atos Jiu-Jitsu star worked his way through the field and claimed the top prize in the Under 80kg division, taking home the gold and a million dollars.
Will Mikey Musumeci leave The Centennial State with a second ONE world title wrapped around his waist, or will Kade Ruotolo cap off his dominant summer with another massive win on the mat?
Follow this link for tickets for ONE 168: Denver on September 6 at Ball Arena.
