ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo announced his arrival in mixed martial arts with a commanding second-round submission of undefeated fighter Adrian Lee at ONE Fight Night 35 on 6 September.
The 22-year-old American silenced any doubts about his transition by forcing Lee to tap at 4:14 of the second round, ending Lee’s perfect 3-0 ONE streak in dramatic fashion.
Ruotolo's victory validated his bold decision to challenge one of the sport's brightest young talents for his promotional MMA debut rather than selecting a safer opponent.
"I knew it wasn't going to be an easy match, and I'm just super stoked to be able to get the win," the Atos representative admitted after his successful debut.
The newly minted MMA competitor acknowledged the significant adjustment required when transitioning from his dominant 8-0 submission grappling career with four finishes.
"Like I said, you know, this isn't just another day in the office. It's a whole new experience for me, so the fact that I got to come out on top and I'm not too hurt," Ruotolo explained.
His opponent entered as one of the stars in the lightweight division, having secured three consecutive submission victories since joining ONE Championship in June 2024.
Despite the competitive nature of their encounter, Ruotolo showed immediate sportsmanship toward the defeated Lee family member.
"And I pray he's alright, and he makes a fast recovery. I'm sure he's got a bright career ahead of him, no matter what, for sure," he stated graciously.
Moving forward, Ruotolo revealed strategic plans that differ from typical MMA career paths, prioritizing quality over quantity while maintaining his grappling dominance.
"I want to keep winning in MMA. I don't care to have a whole bunch of fights. I want to keep defending my belt for jiu-jitsu at the same time," Ruotolo said.
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