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ONE world champion Kade Ruotolo has proven time and time again that he won't back down from the biggest challenges that are out there for him. For the time being, that has been in the world of submission grappling where the 21-year-old has proven himself to be one of the very best in the world.
The former ADCC winner and ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion has seeked out the biggest and best threats out there.
However, his next challenge sees himself embark on a new chapter in his career in what is sure to be the first of many big steps.
At ONE 167, the elite grappler will make his MMA debut when he takes on Blake Cooper at a stacked show inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Competing in MMA is something that Kade Ruotolo has spoken about ever since he arrived in ONE Championship and with every passing month, this date has drawn closer.
In an interview with Karyn Byrant ahead of his lightweight MMA fixture against Cooper, he spoke about the progress that he has made in this training camp and what the process has been like:
"So, you know, in this camp, it's been smooth. I've just been so pleased with my progression every single day. My coaches and everyone around me has been super stoaked for it, my debut."
Watch the full interview below:
Kade Ruotolo isn't short on confidence ahead of June 7
Competing in MMA comes with a much higher risk than Kade Ruotolo is used to as an elite submission grappler.
However, this danger is exactly what motivates the lightweight world champion to make the switch over and attempt to prove himself.
Fighting Blake Cooper on June 7 could be the start of something special as Kade looks to replicate what he has done in the grappling world by becoming a world champion in MMA.
ONE 167 will air live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand on June 7. Active Amazon Prime Video subscribers in North American can catch the entire card for free live in U.S. primetime.
