Tommy Langaker says Kade Ruotolo fight is the one to make

Norway's Tommy Langaker has called for a match against Kade Ruotolo. Langaker just won big in the ONE circle and wants a shot at the lightweight submission grappling world championship.

At ONE Fight Night 7 on Prime Video, dangerous grappler Tommy Langaker submitted Uali Kurzhev via heel hook. The Norwegian jiu-jitsu expert has won two consecutive bouts in ONE Championship, and now wants world champ Kade Ruotolo.

After the match, Langaker spoke with Nicolas Atkin of South China Morning Post MMA, saying:

"You know I want Kade. You know I want to take his belt. Show him like I respect him but I know I’m better and I deserve that title and I’m next in line."

Catch the full interview below:

Langaker has several impressive BJJ championship title wins to his name, including the IBJF European Open, Copa Podio Grand Prix, AJP Abu Dhabi Pro, and several others.

But facing Kade Ruotolo is a whole new level.

Kade Ruotolo is a 20-year-old grappling phenom. In 2022, the BJJ expert was able to win both the ONE lightweight submission grappling world championship and the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship.

Ruotolo won the inaugural ONE submission grappling title, while also setting the record for being the youngest athlete in history to win a world title at ADCC.

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Tommy Langaker vs. Kade Ruotolo appears inevitable

The 20-year-old submission grappling prodigy has agreed to the world title matchup against Tommy Langaker. Kade Ruotolo is seeking this showdown against the Norwegian grappler, so it appears that it will likely happen later in 2023.

Reigning ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion Ruotolo said:

"Afterward there were talks about this match...me and Tommy... And the after party, he was like, yeah, when are we going to go? ... It was a bit of a crazy night but it was no foul play really. It was cool, but at the same time, he came at me with interesting energy I'd say, and he kind of fired me up to have a match with him.”

Norway's Langaker is confident that his style can uncrown Ruotolo. In the above interview with SCMP MMA, he said:

“I deserve my title shot and I know I’m the one to beat Kade and my style is a good counter to him.”