Kade
Ruotolo will hope to break a funny “curse” when he shares the
ONE on Prime Video 21 card with his twin brother, Tye
Ruotolo.
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The ONE
Championship lightweight submission grappling champion will
face innovative Brazilian standout Francisco
Lo in a 180-pound catchweight matchup at Lumpinee Stadium in
Bangkok on April 5. Ruotolo has coincidentally never picked up a
finish in any of the cards he previously shared with Tye, who, on
the other hand, managed to submit his opponent every time. But
Ruotolo insists it wasn’t due to a lack of effort on his part.
“It was the funniest thing because that’s been my ONE Championship
curse as of recently,” the 21-year-old said during the ONE Fight
Night 21 media day. “You know, it’s my style, it’s no lack of
effort, I’m coming close in almost every match. In the Shinya
[Aoki] match, I had the buggy choke at the end, which was real
tight. The Tommy [Langaker] one, I finished in a triangle that was
pretty tight. I was always pushing, and I felt my opponent breaking
at the end, but I just wasn’t able to get the finish. Same thing
with my Matheus [Gabriel] match. It’s funny because ADCC was all
submissions: four submissions.”
Asked how he expects his upcoming bout to play out, Ruotolo
said:
“I think this match is really interesting because it’s kind of a
bit of a question mark all around as far as what submissions I can
throw and what submissions he can throw. He’s got some crafty
triangles and foot locks. I got some triangles, armbars, foot locks
and chokes of my own, as well. So, it could go anywhere.
“I’m not sure exactly what he’s got in mind, but for me personally,
I think it could go in any direction. Even more so than any match
I’ve had in the past, this one is a solid question mark. I don’t
really care. I don’t really have a preference, whatever he shows
me, I’m going to take it.”
Meanwhile, Tye will defend his ONE welterweight submission
grappling title for the first time against Izaak
Michell on the same card. Ruotolo plans on putting his opponent
on their back and working his way to a finish from there.
“I think it’s going to be a war for the first couple of minutes. I
think he’s going to come forward, and I think he’s going to use his
physicality a lot. One hundred percent, it’s going to make me mad.
So, I’m really excited.
“I think I’m going to get on his back and choke him, or guillotine.
I don’t really know how I’m going to submit him, I just have faith
that I’m going to submit him. Whichever way it happens, I’ll take
it. I just want to put him on his back. I know I’m going to put him
on his back first and sub him from there.”