4 Two-Sport Superstars Who Shined In 2024
In 2024, a number of ONE superstars asserted their dominance across multiple combat sports disciplines.
These fearless athletes epitomize the spirit of martial arts, always seeking to test themselves in new ways while showcasing their all-around skills on ONE’s massive global platform.
From submission grappling kingpin Kade Ruotolo making his hotly anticipated MMA debut to former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker blazing his way through the world of elite Muay Thai, these two-sport fighters shined in 2024.
#1 Kade Ruotolo
As the reigning ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion, the youngest ever ADCC World Champion, and the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational Champion, Ruotolo sits comfortably atop the world of BJJ and submission grappling.
The 21-year-old phenom kicked off his year in January at ONE 165 with a clear-cut decision win over Norwegian rival Tommy Langaker to successfully defend his gold. He returned to action just three months later with a sensational submission victory over dangerous Brazilian Francisco “Chico” Lo, further solidifying himself as one of the planet’s top pound-for-pound ground fighters.
Next, in June at ONE 167, martial arts fans around the world anxiously tuned in to Ruotolo’s professional MMA debut. That night, the Californian displayed a level of calm and poise as he picked apart Hawaiian brawler Blake Cooper on the feet before securing the picture-perfect rear-naked choke late in the first round.
Ruotolo’s busy year didn’t end there. In November at ONE 169, he returned for his second career MMA bout, this time taking on respected Pakistani veteran Ahmed “Wolverine” Mujtaba.
Despite being at a significant experience disadvantage, Ruotolo looked phenomenal on the feet, dropping his foe with a booming overhand right before sinking in his trademark D’arce choke to move to 2-0 in MMA.
Clearly, the sky is the limit for the American superstar, who is poised to continue his run of dominance across both MMA and submission grappling in 2025.
#2 Superlek
“The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 has long been regarded as one of the world’s best pound-for-pound strikers, but in 2024, he established himself as an undeniable icon of the striking arts.
In January, he successfully defended his ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title against Japanese superstar Takeru “The Natural Born Crusher” Segawa – a man once considered the sport’s most talented fighter outside of ONE. That unforgettable war marked arguably the most thrilling kickboxing bout of the year.
In June, at ONE Friday Fights 68, Superlek returned to small-gloved Muay Thai to take on surging contender Kongthoranee Sor Sommai. “The Kicking Machine” showcased the full breadth of his striking prowess that night en route to a one-sided decision win that further entrenched him in the flyweight Muay Thai division’s top-five rankings.
And in his most recent outing, in September at ONE 168, the Thai scored perhaps the biggest victory of his 172-fight professional career when he needed just 49 seconds to starch Jonathan “The General” Haggerty and claim the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.
Now a two-sport, two-division titleholder who hasn’t tasted defeat since early 2021, Superlek’s greatness across both Muay Thai and kickboxing is truly undeniable.
#3 Superbon
Thai hero Superbon is beloved for his crispy clean striking technique and devastating head-kick knockouts, and in 2024, he proved to be a legitimate two-sport threat.
He began his year in April in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 58 when he battled Armenian legend Marat Grigorian for the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title. That night, in front of a packed house at the historic Lumpinee Stadium, Superbon employed his soul-stealing step-in knees and an indomitable fighting spirit to score a gritty decision victory and secure 26 pounds of gold.
Rather than wait on the sidelines for a World Title unification contest, Superbon returned to his roots to compete in Muay Thai. In September at ONE Friday Fights 81, he squared off with hard-hitting Thai veteran “Smokin” Jo Nattawut.
In what was a beautiful display of Muay Thai technique, the 34-year-old put “Smokin” Jo down and out with a vicious elbow strike in the first round to earn his spot as the #1-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender.
Moving forward, Superbon will be on the hunt for undisputed kickboxing gold. But before that, he’s set to vie for the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title in a wildly anticipated rematch against reigning titleholder Tawanchai PK Saenchai in January at ONE 170.
#4 John Lineker
Few could have predicted former bantamweight MMA kingpin John Lineker’s meteoric rise through the world of Muay Thai in 2024.
After suffering an MMA defeat as a literal last-minute replacement against former lightweight MMA titleholder Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki, the Brazilian made his Muay Thai debut in September at ONE 168. Lineker displayed his trademark brawling style on his way to a highlight-reel knockout of talented Asa “The American Ninja” Ten Pow to announce himself as a legitimate player in the bantamweight Muay Thai division.
Just a few weeks later, “Hands of Stone” returned to Muay Thai at ONE Fight Night 25 and yet again proved to be a world-class striker, blasting through dangerous Russian standout Alexey Balyko en route to a second-round stoppage.
Lineker will continue his climb up the bantamweight Muay Thai ranks in 2025. In January at ONE Fight Night 27, he’s set to take on former two-time Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Kulabdam “Left Meteorite” Sor Jor Piek Uthai in what will be his stiffest test yet.
As the #1-ranked bantamweight MMA contender and a proven force in Muay Thai, fans can look forward to more two-sport violence from “Hands of Stone” in the coming year.
