Since the day they were born, Kade and Tye Ruotolo have done virtually everything together. Their careers have followed similar trajectories to the very top of the submission grappling world, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have some key differences.
Looking ahead to his blockbuster showdown with ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey Musumeci at ONE 168: Denver on September 6, Kade revealed how the 21-year-old brothers differ.
“The first [difference] is the awareness of our bodies, and taking care of our bodies, and being aware of rehab and stuff like that. Tye loves it. If Tye didn’t do jiu-jitsu, I could see him being a personal trainer or a chiropractor or something. He enjoys understanding the body and fixing himself and unwinding himself,” Kade said.
“I’m like my dad. I’m old school. If I’m hurt, I’m just like, ‘I’m not hurt, I’m fine.’ I just try to keep a ‘you know, I’m fine. It hurts, but it doesn’t hurt’ mentality. Because, I know in the match, adrenaline usually takes the pain away. I’m always kinda neglecting my injuries, and Tye is always taking care of his, so that’s probably one of the main differences.”
While Tye Ryotolo is looking after his body, however, Kade is out networking and doing business.
That, Tye said, is the biggest difference between them.
“I probably hermit out more than Kade does. Kade enjoys making a lot of connections, sponsorship type of things. I like to hermit out a little bit. I’m outgoing, but when I’m at home, I’m happy. I think that’s the biggest difference,” he said.
But it’s not just outside of the Circle that they differ.
Kade Ruotolo explains how he and brother Tye’s grappling games differ
Even though they hit incredibly identical submissions at ONE Fight Night 21 in April, ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo insists that he and twin brother, welterweight submission grappling king Tye, also have different approaches in the heat of battle.
“Tye is like an avalanche, where he starts and just…the avalanche is coming, and coming, and coming. And it just keeps growing and becoming stronger until you just are overwhelmed, and you can’t take it, and you break, and he finishes you – for the most part. Unless he just snipes through your game and subs you there,” he said.
“Me, for the most part, I try to be more spontaneous and less of a pace, more of just a window, more opportunity based. I need more of his pace for sure. We always say, what he has I need, and vice versa. I would say those are the main differences.”
Both of the Ruotolos remain undefeated since making their ONE debuts in 2022.
Most recently, Kade made a successful transition to mixed martial arts with a rear-naked choke victory over MMA athlete Blake Cooper at ONE 167 earlier this month.