BJJ star Kade Ruotolo will return for his second career MMA fight when he faces Ahmed Mujtaba at ONE 169.
Kade Ruotolo will soon lace up the 4-ounce gloves and return to action for the second MMA bout of his career.
On Tuesday, ONE Championship announced that Ruotolo will face Pakistan’s Ahmed Mujtaba on November 8 at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug. The event will take place at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Widely regarded as one of the planet’s top pound-for-pound grapplers, the 21-year-old Ruotolo made his hotly anticipated MMA debut in June at ONE 167. That night, he showcased a surprisingly adept striking game before submitting Hawaiian Blake Cooper late in the first round with a rear-naked choke.
Ruotolo was next slated to face fellow decorated American grappler Mikey Musumeci in September at ONE 168 with Ruotolo’s ONE lightweight submission grappling world title on the line. However, in August, Ruotolo sustained an injury on his way to winning $1 million at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational and was forced to withdraw from his clash with Musumeci.
For Ruotolo, Mujtaba represents a significant test for just his second MMA bout. Training out of American Kickboxing Academy, the 31-year-old Pakistani boasts a 10-4 career MMA record that includes eight appearances in ONE Championship.
While Mujtaba will come into this contest following back-to-back losses, his all-around skills and experience at the elite level could pose some problems for Ruotolo. Notably, Mujtaba is no slouch on the ground, as he owns five submission wins – including a highlight-reel “cryangle” finish of BJJ black belt Abraao Amorim in 2022.
Ruotolo, though, is undeniably one of the best grapplers to ever cross over to MMA. A former Who’s Number One champion and current ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion, he is also the youngest-ever ADCC gold medalist – a feat he accomplished with a 100 percent submission rate.
Ruotolo’s recent performance at the CJI solidified his status as a pound-for-pound powerhouse. Over the course of two days, he defeated former ADCC champion Matheus Diniz, IBJJF no-gi world champion Tommy Langaker, fellow young phenom Andrew Tackett, and dangerous guard player Levi Jones-Leary to win the $1 million prize.
How to watch: Kade Ruotolo vs. Ahmed Mujtaba takes place at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug on November 8, 2024, and will air live on Prime Video (free with Amazon Plus subscription) beginning at 8:00 PM ET.
