Kade Ruotolo has been rolling with his twin brother, Tye, since they learned to walk, and their constant challenging of each other has allowed them to reach incredible heights in their respective careers. The ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion puts his belt on the line against Norwegian standout Tommy Langaker at ONE Fight Night 11: Eersel vs. Menshikov this Friday, June 9, and he credits the work that he put in with his sibling for helping him get to where he is. 

“I don’t think there’s been anything that’s helped me more single-handedly than my brother – as an athlete. Because there have been countless times where I don’t think I would have accomplished certain things without him,” Ruotolo shared with ONE Championship.

Kade Ruotolo revealed how his twin brother had been a blessing for him

“There are so many things [that Tye did to help me], from just the everyday scraps, the hour-long fights that we’ve just had in the garage until [someone] taps. Every war that we’ve ever had has really grown us into the athletes that we are today. We wouldn’t even be close to where we’re at without each other.” Right before claiming the inaugural lightweight submission grappling crown in ONE last October, the 20-year-old BJJ phenom became the youngest-ever ADCC World Champion.

The win sent shock waves through the combat sports world, and Ruotolo believes Tye’s tough love and honest assessment helped him get through his biggest challenges in the illustrious tournament.

READ MORE – 3 ONE Fight Night 11 Matchups ONE Championship Fans Just Can’t Miss

“I don’t think I would have won the ADCC [World Championship] if he wasn’t there. It’s just a couple of words that he told me beforehand. There are things that your brother will tell you that no one else will tell you. Like, ‘Dude, you actually sucked in that round. What are you doing?’ He’s just brutally honest, and you need that in order to grow,” he said.

The Kade Ruotolo vs Tommy Langaker showdown is expected to be an enthraller

The in-from American star, who is 3-0 on the global stage, will face a significant challenge in his latest World Title defense inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium this weekend. Many consider Langaker the best grappler out of Europe, and he is coming off back-to-back wins in ONE, with both performances earning him bonuses in the promotion. 

READ MORE – “That Motivates Me to Do Better” – Regian Eersel Reveals How the Trip to His Homeland Filled Him With a Renewed Spirit to Excel

He poses a genuine threat to Ruotolo’s streak, given his blistering run of form, but the defending World Champion won’t be easily overcome, meaning their co-main event matchup is guaranteed to be a barnburner. It goes out live and free, along with the rest of the ONE Fight Night 11 card, on Prime Video for fans across North America with an active Amazon subscription this Friday, June 9.