Reigning ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo successfully transitioned to MMA with a dominant second-round submission victory over undefeated phenom Adrian Lee at ONE Fight Night 35 on Friday, September 5, at Bangkok, Thailand’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium. The 22-year-old American secured a rear-naked choke at the 4:14 mark of round two, earning a $50,000 performance bonus while handing Lee his first professional defeat.
Tye Ruotolo Embraces For New Challenge After Successful MMA Debut
Tye Ruotolo expressed genuine gratitude for his successful transition to MMA, acknowledging the unique challenges that came with competing in the all-encompassing sport. The 22-year-old Cali native emphasized how different the experience felt compared to his submission grappling dominance.
“Like I said, this isn’t just another day in the office. It’s a whole new experience for me, so the fact that I got to come out on top and I’m not too hurt, and I’m just real happy and blessed, super grateful. Good day,” he reflected on his debut performance.
The victory maintains Tye Ruotolo’s perfect record in ONE Championship, improving to 9-0 across both submission grappling and MMA. His seamless transition suggests the technical skills that made him a world champion grappler translate effectively to MMA competition.
Tye Ruotolo Eyes Rapid Rise Through Lightweight Division
Image Courtesy of ONE Championship.
Tye Ruotolo, who predicted a quick finish, wasted no time outlining his ambitious plans for his MMA career, expressing his desire to pursue championship gold while maintaining his submission grappling dominance. The Californian wants to balance competing in both disciplines without compromising his success in either sport.
“I want to keep winning in MMA. I want to have a short road to the top. And, yeah, so whoever’s next, who’s going to get me to the belt, that’s what I want next. I want to keep defending my belt for jiu-jitsu at the same time,” the American explained his dual-sport aspirations.
The twin brother of ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo joins his sibling in chasing success in both sports. Currently, Kade boasts a perfect 3-0 MMA record.
Tye Ruotolo Shows Respect For Rival
Despite ending Lee’s perfect professional record, Tye Ruotolo expressed genuine respect for the 19-year-old’s fighting spirit and future potential. He praised Lee’s toughness and predicted a strong bounce-back for the youngest member of the famous Lee family.
“I think that Adrian has a bright career ahead of him, and that he’s an excellent MMA fighter for sure. He didn’t want to tap. He got slept. So I know that he’s got a lot of fight in his heart. I know for sure he’ll be back,” the submission grappling star stated, respectfully.
Lee’s defeat marks the first setback of his professional career. The Singapore-American trains alongside his brother, reigning two-division champion Christian Lee, at Prodigy Training Center and remains one of MMA’s most promising young talents.