Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner from the US
Kade Ruotolo (born January 22, 2003) is an American submission grappler and black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete.
A competitor with his twin brother Tye since the age of 3, Ruotolo is a IBJJF World champion, Pan Am and European Open champion at coloured belt level. Promoted to black belt in December 2021, Ruotolo won the 2022 ADCC World Championship in the 77kg division, becoming at age 19 the youngest-ever ADCC Submission Fighting World champion.[2] Ruotolo is signed to ONE Championship where he is the current lightweight submission grappling champion.[3]
Early life
Born in Maui, Hawaii, of Italian and Puerto Rican heritage, Ruotolo was raised in Huntington Beach, California, and began competing in jiujitsu at age 3. Ruotolo and his twin brother Tye were considered "grappling's first child-stars".[4] They trained at the Art of Jiu-Jitsu academy (AOJ) for 4 years under Guilherme and Rafael Mendes before switching to Atos Jiu-Jitsu in 2017, a team to which AOJ was affiliated.[4] Both Kade and his brother Tye were promoted to brown belts in BJJ by André Galvão in October 2020.[5] Ruotolo and his brother were promoted to black belt on December 14, 2021, by André Galvão.[4]
Grappling career
2020-2021
On November 29, 2020, Ruotolo competed at the Combat Jiu-Jitsu Lightweight World Championships and defeated four grapplers in one night to claim the title.[6] His buggy choke submission finish of PJ Barch in the final match was awarded 'Submission of the Year' at the Jitsmagazine 2020 BJJ Awards.[7]
Ruotolo then won the 77kg division of the ADCC North American East Coast Trials on November 6, 2021, to claim an invite to the 2022 ADCC World Championship.[8] He was later awarded with 'Submission of the Year' at the Jitsmagazine 2021 BJJ Awards for his flying d'arce choke finish of Joshua Dawson in the second round of the tournament.[9] In preparation for the event, Ruotolo competed against Roberto Jimenez at Road to ADCC on July 17, 2021, and was submitted with a rear-naked choke.[10] Across the weekend of September 25–26, Ruotolo competed at the Who's Number One Championships and defeated three opponents to become the promotion's inaugural Lightweight champion.[11] At Grapplefest 10 on November 10, 2021, Ruotolo defeated Keith Krikorian by decision[12]
On March 25, 2021, Ruotolo and his brother both signed a contract with ONE Championship to compete in submission grappling and eventually make their MMA debut.[13] In his debut match at ONE 157, Ruotolo fought Shinya Aoki and won a unanimous decision.[14]
2022-2023
Competing in the 77 kilograms (170 lb) division at the 2022 ADCC World Championship, an event commonly referred to as the "Olympics of grappling",[15] Ruotolo became the youngest competitor to win gold, submitting Micael Galvão in the final, the first grappler to do so in competition.[16]
On October 21, 2022, Ruotolo faced multiple-time Sambo World Champion Uali Kurzhev for the inaugural ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship at ONE on Prime Video 3.[17] After Kurzhev failed hydration twice, a catchweight of 174 lbs was established, four pounds heavier than initially intended, making Kurzhev ineligible for the belt.[18] Ruotolo submitted Kurzhev with a heel hook at the 4:26 mark of the 10-minute bout to win the title and become the first-ever ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion.[19]
Ruotolo defended his title against Matheus Gabriel on December 3, 2022, at ONE on Prime Video 5.[20] He won the match via unanimous decision.[21]
Ruotolo was booked to defend his ONE Championship lightweight title against Tommy Langaker at ONE Fight Night 11 on June 9, 2023.[22] He won the match by decision and retained the title.[23]
2024 onwards
Ruotolo's next title-defense was booked for ONE 165 on January 28, 2024, where he would face Tommy Langaker in a rematch.[24] He defeated Langaker by decision and retained his title.[25]
Ruotolo made his black belt IBJJF debut in a superfight against Natan Chueng at the IBJJF No Gi Absolute Grand Prix on February 29, 2024.[26] He won the match on points.[27] Ruotolo then competed at the IBJJF Dallas Open 2024 on March 10th, winning a gold medal at medium-heavyweight and a bronze medal in the absolute division.[28]
Ruotolo will face Francisco Lo in a catchweight bout at 180lbs at ONE Fight Night 21 on April 5, 2024.[29]
Mixed martial arts career
Ruotolo announced his intention to transition to mixed martial arts early in 2023,[30] and the contract he signed to compete in grappling matches for ONE Championship also included provisions for MMA fights as well.[31] Both Kade and his brother Tye announced that they were going to make their professional mixed martial arts debuts before the end of 2023.[32]
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitive summary
Main Achievements:[4]
Main Achievements (Kids + Juvenile[4]):
- IBJJF World Champion (2019)
- IBJJF Pan Champion (2019)
- IBJJF European Open Champion (2019[a])
- IBJJF Pan Kids Champion (2010 / 2014 / 2015 / 2017 / 2018)
- IBJJF Kids International Champion (2014 / 2016)
- IBJJF Kids American Nationals Champion (2014 / 2015)
- 2nd place IBJJF European Open (2019)
- 3rd place IBJJF Pan Championship (2019[a])
