ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo is a child prodigy and his ascent to the top of the sport has been the culmination of a lifetime of hard work.
The prodigious 21-year-old will face the toughest test of his career at ONE Fight Night 21: Eersel vs. Nicolas on Prime Video on April 5. There, he locks horns with explosive Australian Izaak Michell at the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Ahead of the blockbuster showdown, Ruotolo revealed how he balances his life alongside being a world-famous grappler.
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“Sure I do other things – I surf, I got my other parts – but jiu-jitsu is what I do. So every time I compete, that’s huge. It’s huge to me because that’s who I am. If I lose that, it’s a reflection of how I’ve probably prepared,” he said.
Outside of the ring, the American has dedicated his entire life to reaching, and staying, at the top of the grappling world.
Tye Ruotolo dedicates his whole life to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Tye Ruotolo admits that he does feel pressure ahead of his bouts, possibly none more so than his next fight against Izaak Michell at ONE Fight Night 21 on Prime Video.
The welterweight submission grappling king began his training at just 3 years old. By age 16, he was a BJJ black belt and became the youngest competitor to ever appear at the prestigious ADCC World Championships. As a child prodigy, he did feel pressure while competing.
“Of course, there’s always been pressure. We’ve just been doing it since such a young age that it’s part of our lives. It’s not even like we have an option. That’s what it feels like. I don’t feel like I have an out. I don’t feel like I can just stop doing it – it’s just my identity. It’s just who I am, right?” Ruotolo said.
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“The same way that I guess someone would make sure they have to show up to work every day. It’s the same way. When I go to compete, I have to. I don’t have an option. You know, that’s my job. I can’t quit. I’m a jiu-jitsu fighter, you know? That’s what I spent my whole life doing.”
Alongside his twin brother, ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade, Ruotolo has taken the global stage by storm since making his ONE debut in 2022. The California native has lived up to the expectations that sit on his shoulders, and he remains unbeaten in his six promotional appearances.