Training partners become champions under the same roof. Diego Paez witnessed that evolution firsthand at Classic Fight Team.

The 32-year-old Colombian-American striker faces Black Panther in flyweight Muay Thai at ONE Fight Night 40 on Friday, February 13, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Stadium. The event airs live in U.S. primetime on Amazon Prime Video. But before Paez steps back into the spotlight after months away, he’s been watching his gym mates tear through ONE Championship’s ranks.

Kade and Tye Ruotolo walked into Classic Fight Team’s Fountain Valley, California, facility years ago as pure grapplers. They needed striking skills to survive MMA. Paez trained alongside both brothers during that transformation. What he saw impressed him immediately.

The twins absorbed information like sponges. Their commitment went beyond showing up for sessions. They held themselves to championship standards from day one. That dedication showed every time they stepped on the mats.

“Their energy is impressive. They’re fast learners. They’re all in, they’re all about it,” Paez said. “They are progressing at a very fast rate. You can tell when someone’s fully committed to something, and these kids are there to learn and to be the best. So, they hold up with everyone in the room. They learn quick.”

Diego Paez sees championship-level striking from Ruotolo brothers in MMA debuts

Diego Paez doesn’t just train with the Ruotolo brothers. He watches their fights like everyone else when ONE Championship puts them on display.

The results speak for themselves. Kade Ruotolo debuted in MMA during June 2024 and subsequently ran through three opponents in the first round. All three victories came by submission. But that powerful overhand right he nearly flattened Ahmed Mujtaba with? That came from hours drilling at Classic Fight Team.

Tye Ruotolo followed the same blueprint. The ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion choked out Adrian Lee in September 2025, then repeated the performance against Shozo Isojima two months later. His standup looked sharper each time. The varied striking repertoire he displayed didn’t appear overnight.

Paez has nearly two decades of Muay Thai experience. He’s studied the world’s elite strikers. Recognition comes naturally when real talent emerges. The Ruotolo brothers carry that spark.

“I always tune in. They’re killin’ it,” he said. “I think their striking is getting better every single time that they step in there, and of course, they’re going to stick to their roots, but I feel like they can hang with the best on the feet. They got good striking, and they’re fully committed to everything they throw. I think that’s one of their best attributes.”