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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Nolan King

ONE 169 video: Grappling star Kade Ruotolo shows off power, closes fight with choke

Kade Ruotolo has the grappling skills, yes – but he also has power.

At ONE 169 on Friday, Rutolo (2-0) needed only 64 seconds to club-and-sub opponent Ahmed Mujtaba (10-5) for a finish at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Ruotolo dropped Mujtaba with a big overhand right that floored Pakistan’s Mujtaba. Ruotolo made an effort to finish the fight with punches, but ultimately elected to snatch Mujtaba’s neck with a deep D’Arce choke and get a tap.

Ruotolo, 21, and his twin brother Tye are grappling prodigies who began training at three. At age 18, Ruotolo was awarded a black belt by Andre Galvao. In 2022 at age 19, he became the youngest person to ever win an ADCC World Championship.

He made his pro MMA debut in June when he submitted Blake Cooper in 3:20. Prior to Friday’s fight, he told MMA Junkie he planned to take time off after the fight to heal injuries.

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