Youngest Ever BJJ World Champion Kade Ruotolo Plans to Repeat His Success Against Sambo World Champion Uali Kurzhev in Upcoming Grappling World Title Clash

This Friday, elite BJJ black belt Kade Ruotolo will collide with Sambo World Champion Uali Kurzhev for the inaugural ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title.

In many ways, the clash between Ruotolo and Kurzhev at ONE on Prime Video 3 represents a matchup of two highly effective, submission-based martial arts: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and sambo.

Kade Ruotolo will rely on his Jiu-Jitsu skills to beat Kurzhev

Fresh off his spectacular ADCC run, which saw him submit each of his four world-class opponents, the 19-year-old Ruotolo is bursting with confidence. Despite his admitted lack of experience with sambo, he is confident his BJJ skills will overcome whatever Kurzhev brings to the table.

“Personally, I never watched too much sambo growing up,” he said. “I understand the style a bit, but I don’t know, I don’t follow along with the sport too much. And I’m hearing that he is one of the greats. He’s a sambo champion.”

Ruotolo is well aware that a sambo stylist like Korzhev–who is also an accomplished judo black belt–will possess excellent takedowns and wrestling.

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Never one to pull guard, the American teen star expects a battle on the feet.

“Sambo guys, in general, they have a very strong wrestling background, usually. And they have a very strong upper body wrestling. They have good picks, inside trips, things like that,” Ruotolo said. 

“But I’m always trying to keep the same mentality where it’s a real fight. I love to try and take down, stay on top, and get the submission. So, I think there will definitely be a clash of styles on the feet.”

Ultimately, Ruotolo believes that he’ll find the fight-ending submission after exchanging techniques on the feet, perhaps locking up his trademark D’Arce choke.

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And if that isn’t available, he plans to hunt for leg locks.

“Man, I kind of have the same goal for every match: takedown, pass, submit,” the American said.

“Prediction-wise, he’s going to come at me with some good wrestling, and I’m going to come at him with the same. I wouldn’t be surprised if I get him in a front headlock, D’Arce, or something like that. If that doesn’t work, I think I’ll probably end up looking for those legs.”