5 Reasons Why BJJ Megastar Tye Ruotolo Has Been Untouchable In ONE Championship
Tye Ruotolo is continuing to craft his legacy as one of the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling competitors in history.
On May 2 in U.S. primetime, the American superstar will defend his ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Title against hard-charging Canadian standout Dante Leon at ONE Fight Night 31: Kongthoranee vs. Nong-O II on Prime Video.
After seven appearances and seven dominant victories in the world’s largest martial arts organization, Ruotolo has looked nothing short of sensational – and most experts place him among the sport’s very best pound-for-pound grapplers.
Before he defends the gold against Leon at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, we dive into why the 22-year-old BJJ black belt has been unstoppable in ONE Championship.
#1 Superhuman Pacing
Any discussion of Ruotolo’s world-class grappling should start with his high-octane, ultra-aggressive style.
Like a snowball rolling down a hill, the titleholder loves to apply constant pressure and pace on his opponents, gaining momentum and turning the aggression up to a fever pitch as the match wears on.
Typically, this relentless approach leads to a submission finish. But even when his fights go to the judges’ scorecards, Ruotolo always leaves his opponents exhausted and gasping for air.
#2 Elite Takedown Skills
Every match starts on the feet, and although he doesn’t have a background in traditional wrestling, Ruotolo has proven to be an elite takedown artist. Importantly, he’s used this skill set to dictate most of his bouts from the opening bell.
Whether it was his unforgettable promotional debut against Garry Tonon or his most recent victory over fellow young phenom Jozef Chen, the Californian has employed heavy collar ties and a dynamic, explosive takedown game to set the tone and stay a step ahead.
#3 Submission Variety
While the Atos representative is best known for his trademark D’Arce choke – which he used to submit Tonon in fewer than two minutes – he’s showcased a remarkably wide variety of submission skills in ONE.
In addition to his D’Arce, Ruotolo has scored an armbar, a rear-naked choke, and even a unique “Ruotolotine” (an arm-in choke from the back), all against elite opposition, over the course of his ONE tenure.
#4 Absurd Scrambling
Ruotolo seems to thrive in the most chaotic moments, and his preternatural scrambling abilities make him an incredibly difficult puzzle to solve for the planet’s most talented ground fighters.
For example, in his successful ONE World Title defense against Australia’s Izaak Michell, he capitalized on the smallest of openings to reverse the challenger and take the mount position in the blink of an eye.
Thanks to a lifetime of training and top-tier grappling experience, Ruotolo has millions of hard-wired reactions that help him come out on top in even the most chaotic scrambles.
#5 He Seeks Difficult Challenges Outside Of ONE
Notably, Ruotolo hasn’t been afraid to test himself against dangerous opponents outside of ONE and under a wide variety of rule sets. This experience has undoubtedly helped him remain dominant under ONE’s bright lights.
After his successful ONE debut in May 2022, he put on the gi and became the youngest-ever IBJJF Black Belt World Champion. Later that year, he earned bronze in the absolute division at the ADCC World Championships.
Then, after winning and defending the ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Title, Ruotolo put forth a strong showing at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational, proving that he’s never one to back down from a challenge.
