Kade Ruotolo has some unfinished business to attend to in his upcoming match, and he is confident he’ll get the outcome he’s wanted for some time. This Sunday, January 28, the American grappling prodigy will defend the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title against arguably his most dangerous challenger in Tommy Langaker once again in the co-main event of ONE 165: Superlek vs. Takeru inside the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Last year, the pair figured in a heated build-up to their first encounter at ONE Fight Night 11 in June. Following a brief interaction at an event away from ONE, the grappling stars couldn’t wait to get their hands on each other, and it showed in their match.
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Kade Ruotolo revisits his first match against Tommy Langaker
A finish was predicted by many, but they ultimately went the full 10 minutes, with Ruotolo being declared the winner at the end. The masterclass between the pair was awarded ONE’s 2023 Submission Grappling Match of the Year, but the World Champion feels there’s more to do. “I got the win. However, it wasn’t the way I wanted to win. You know, I would definitely want to get the finish. And that’s pretty much the reason why I’m accepting the rematch this time around, because I want to submit him,” he told ONE in a recent interview.
Ruotolo hasn’t defended his belt since, while Langaker has been busy elsewhere. Later last year, he won the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship, becoming the first Norwegian to do so.
As he looked back on his performance against his old foe, Ruotolo revealed that he wasn’t in peak condition at the time, which may have contributed to his failure to claim a stoppage. “I’m never one to make any excuses, but my last camp was just, you know, nowhere near where I wanted it to be as far as my preparation, due to some outside reasons,” he said. “And this time around, I’ve been a lot more focused, I’ve been a lot more hungry, and it’s going to show.”
With renewed confidence in his training methods and preparation, however, the Californian native vows to put on an even better performance this weekend.
The American Jiu-jitsu phenom predicts the outcome of his rematch
Pressed for a prediction during the interview, Ruotolo said, “The next time we fight, I’m going to submit him. I know it’s, kind of, a simple answer, maybe a bit boring. But to be honest, that’s the honest-to-God truth.”
He also made a statement that helps us get an insight into the mindset of the Californian native, which sets him apart from the rest. He said, “And everyone that I fight that I don’t submit, I almost take it as just a poor performance, even if I was dominant. If I didn’t get the submission, then I’m not happy.”
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Given that Kade Ruotolo is coming into the match with sheer confidence that he would submit Langaker, how likely do you find that to become the reality? Let us know in the comments section below.
All the action from ONE 165 will be broadcast on pay-per-view on watch.onefc.com this Sunday.
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Edited by
Ruth John