“The Fear Button Isn’t Really There” – Kade Ruotolo Says He’s Ready to Deal With Strikes in His MMA Debut at ONE 167

Kade Ruotolo is ready to set foot on a new journey to the top of a new sport and he is not afraid of the new challenges ahead of him. The American grappling prodigy recently claimed a submission victory over BJJ black belt Francisco Lo at ONE Fight Night 21 earlier this month.

The win was his sixth in as many bouts in ONE, which includes three successful defenses of the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship.

Kade Ruotolo makes MMA debut at ONE 167

On the same night, it was announced that his next bout will be at ONE 167: Stamp vs. Zamboanga, set for June 7, where he will compete in a mixed martial arts contest for the first time in his professional career. He is set to take on second-generation fighter Blake Cooper in a lightweight MMA match inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Ruotolo and his twin brother, Tye, have competed in jiu-jitsu practically their whole lives and have won at every level of the sport. Upon joining ONE Championship in 2022, they continued their winning ways and defeated every opponent put in front of them.

With their undeniable talent in the grappling arts at just 20 years old, fans have speculated that they will inevitably transition to MMA in the coming years. The twins have always left the door open for the possibility, but Kade has been more active in pursuing the shift. He has been training in the sport while doing his usual jiu-jitsu drills and he will soon be able to showcase the product of his hard work.

Overcoming the fear

Speaking to ONE after his latest win, he offered a preview of what fans should expect from him when he fights in his first MMA match.

“I’m no Mike Tyson or a Superlek. I’m not quite there yet, but every day, I’m getting better and polishing my hands. The main thing is that I’m comfortable striking. I’m not too scared of punches, which is usually the biggest barrier to overcome,” he said.

He further added, “My brother and I grew up scrapping our whole lives, so the fear button isn’t really there when it comes to striking. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but I’ve been finding more success and learning every day, so I’m confident.”