'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion Kade Ruotolo has also embarked on his MMA journey. He said it is part of his push to be recognized as among the best martial artists, if not the best, of all time.
The 21-year-old Atos standout had his first taste of MMA competition under the ONE Championship banner back in June. He was exemplary, winning by submission (rear-naked choke) in the opening round over fellow American fighter Blake Cooper.
It was a fulfillment of his long-sought goal of dipping his hands in the mutli-faceted sport of mixed martial arts, which is in line with his mission to continue to expand his horizon as a fighter and be better with his craft.
Trending
Speaking to MMA Junkie in an interview, which was uploaded on YouTube on Oct. 28, Kade Ruotolo touched on his MMA campaign and the reason he was moved to pursue it alongside jiu-jitsu.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
He said:
"In order to be one of the best martial artists of all time, you got to do it all right, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, MMA, striking, boxing ... all these different martial arts, you know?"
Check out what he had to say below:
Prior to competing in MMA, Kade Ruotolo kicked off his ONE campaign by winning all of his seven submission grappling matches, including against Russia's Uali Kurzhev in October 2022. That result saw him win the inaugural lightweight submission grappling world title.
Kade Ruotolo continues MMA campaign at ONE 169
Kade Ruotolo stays in the MMA lane for his next match, taking on dangerous Pakistani martial artist Ahmed Mujtaba.
The two are featured in a lightweight MMA showdown at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. 'Reug Reug' on Nov. 8 at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. It comes on the heels of Ruotolo's successful MMA debut back in June.
In his maiden MMA match under ONE Championship, Ruotolo made short work of Blake Cooper, which culminated in him employing a nifty rear-naked choke in the opening round on his way to the submission victory.
Meanwhile, out to frustrate Kade Ruotolo at ONE 169 is Mujtaba, who has hit a rough patch of late and in search of an important victory from which to turn things around.
ONE 169 will air live and for free in U.S. primetime to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
