The world of combat sports is set to witness a significant transition as decorated jiu-jitsu world champion Tye Ruotolo is confirmed to make his professional mixed martial arts debut. The highly anticipated event is scheduled for ONE Fight Night 35, taking place on September 5th at the renowned Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ruotolo, a multi-time grappling champion known for his dynamic submission skills, will face a stern test right out of the gate. His opponent is the promising 19-year-old prospect, Adrian Lee. Lee enters the bout with a perfect professional record and carries the weight of a notable combat sports lineage, being the younger brother of former ONE champions Christian and Angela Lee.
Tye Ruotolo, alongside his equally accomplished twin brother Kade Ruotolo, signed with ONE Championship with the stated intention of competing in both submission grappling and professional MMA. While Kade has already successfully transitioned to the cage, accumulating a 3-0 record, Tye`s debut has been eagerly awaited by fans eager to see how his elite ground skills translate to the full mixed martial arts ruleset. Tye has already demonstrated his effectiveness within ONE`s grappling divisions, securing victories over high-level competitors such as Garry Tonon and Reinier de Ridder.
Adrian Lee, despite his young age, has quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. His unblemished 3-0 record is particularly impressive, with all three victories coming by way of submission. This detail adds a layer of intrigue to the matchup; it seems Tye will not receive a gentle introduction to MMA against a stylistic opposite, but rather confront an opponent who has proven dangerous in the very realm Ruotolo dominates – the ground game.
This pairing presents a fascinating clash of narratives and skills. On one side stands a grappling icon stepping into a new discipline, armed with world-class submission artistry. On the other is a young, undefeated prospect from a fighting dynasty, who has shown a dangerous ability to finish fights on the ground in his early professional career. The fight will not only test Tye`s ability to integrate striking and cage control with his grappling but also gauge whether Lee`s still-developing overall MMA game is prepared for a veteran competitor of Ruotolo`s pedigree, even in his debut.
Scheduled for September 5th, the clash between Tye Ruotolo and Adrian Lee is undoubtedly one of the most compelling matchups on the ONE Fight Night 35 card. Combat sports enthusiasts will be watching closely to see how Ruotolo`s celebrated grappling skills translate to professional MMA and if Adrian Lee can continue his impressive, undefeated streak by overcoming a martial arts legend in the making.
Marcus Blakely