Tye Ruotolo Says People Underestimate The Ruotolo Twins In MMA, Plans To Prove Them Wrong
Tye Ruotolo has heard the doubts. Plenty of observers expect a grappler with two MMA fights to struggle against the division’s king.
The 23-year-old American challenges two-division king Christian “The Warrior” Lee for the ONE Lightweight MMA World Title in the main event of The Inner Circle 37 on Friday, November 6. The card streams live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, exclusively for members at live.onefc.com.
Ruotolo holds a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and is 9-0 in ONE submission grappling. He won the inaugural welterweight crown and has defended it three times.
He has been just as perfect in MMA, choking out Adrian “The Phenom” Lee in September 2025 and Shozo Isojima in November 2025.
He first stepped onto the mats at three years old alongside his twin brother, ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo.
“My brother and I have been martial artists our whole lives. I think when people see us, kind of early into our MMA careers, they don’t really expect too much from us. But we have high expectations,” Ruotolo said.
“I’ve used every day that passes as an opportunity to get better. I may have only had two MMA fights, but I truly feel if you put me on the other side of the ring with anybody close to my size, the odds of me ending the fight are very high.”
Lee became ONE’s youngest male MMA World Champion in 2019, holds the promotion’s records for most wins, finishes, and first-round stoppages, and has won 17 of his 18 fights inside the distance.
For the Roots of Jiu Jitsu representative, the belt would complete a vision he and Kade shared when they signed with ONE in 2022.
“Winning the belt will mean a lot to me. It represents the opportunity to bridge the gap from just being a jiu-jitsu [stylist] to being a full martial artist. It would mean the world to me,” he said.
“I’ve always considered myself a full martial artist, and I’ve always wanted to be the best in the world in both disciplines. So now, I get an opportunity to fight the best in the world at 170, and I’m very excited. I believe I have what it takes to become a true champion of both.”
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