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At simply 21 years of age, Kade Ruotolo has already achieved greater than most ever will in aggressive grappling, which incorporates his ADCC championship in 2022.
Whereas he’ll always remember his roots, Ruotolo now prepares to make his MMA debut at ONE 167 on Friday, which was at all times the plan for him. Regardless of the lengthy checklist of accolades he’s amassed in grappling (with plans so as to add much more within the close to future), Ruotolo knew he would turn into a fighter together with his twin brother Tye finally anticipated to do the identical.
“I at all times knew from a younger age I’d be placing on the gloves,” Ruotolo advised MMA Preventing. “It was at all times a bucket checklist kind factor for me. I’ve at all times loved watching it, cherished watching it as youngsters. We’d go over to our grandpa’s home and he’d at all times have the UFC fights on or no matter.
“We’re at all times tremendous into it, at all times watching and clearly doing jiu-jitsu at the moment. We at all times knew in the future that when we achieved nearly every little thing we needed to in jiu-jitsu that we’d make that transition over.”
As a result of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and aggressive grappling have taken up a lot of his time through the years, Ruotolo admits he didn’t focus a lot on MMA coaching till the previous few years. He did practice some Muay Thai when he was a child, however largely stayed targeted on his grappling profession till lately.
With plans to finally do MMA already planted in his thoughts, Ruotolo began taking child steps in the direction of the game by incorporating extra hanging and wrestling into his coaching routine. What he didn’t count on was having fun with MMA as a lot as jiu-jitsu.
“I’m undoubtedly in love with it,” Ruotolo mentioned. “I believe what’s really easy to like about it for me is that I’m studying one thing new each single day. It’s not that I don’t in jiu-jitsu, however simply the quantity that I’m studying each, single day, it’s refreshing. It appears like I’m a child once more. I’m again at white belt once more, climbing the ranks. I’m in love with it. I’m nearly to say greater than jiu-jitsu to be trustworthy with you. I really like hanging.”
Ruotolo surrounded himself with the very best trainers he might discover, together with legendary MMA coach Erik Paulson, who helped him adapt his world-class grappling to be used within the cage.
Even with all of his expertise within the largest Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions world wide, Ruotolo admits he figured shortly that Paulson was a fountain of knowledge.
“I used to be born in 2003 so I used to be like Erik Paulson?” Ruotolo mentioned. “I’m sitting there scratching my head and I’m going in there and he reveals me three leg locks I by no means knew and I began utilizing all of them day in school, all through the entire subsequent week. It simply blew my thoughts. Proper once you assume all of the leg locks! He confirmed me three I didn’t also have a clue about.
“That’s once I knew this was the person on the grappling, jiu-jitsu and wrestling, that was him.”
As a lot as he’s loved his coaching and preparation, Ruotolo admits nothing got here straightforward, which is why he believes so many high-level grapplers discuss doing MMA after which abandon that plan earlier than it involves fruition.
“There’s undoubtedly a cause why you see a variety of guys declare they’re going to do MMA and so they by no means fairly make it there,” Ruotolo mentioned. “It’s an entire totally different ball recreation. An entire totally different sport.
“You actually do need to dedicate your every little thing into it so far as coaching, the restoration, every little thing. It’s a lot extra drastic than a jiu-jitsu match or a jiu-jitsu camp even.”
Ruotolo hopes he will get to point out off all his totally different instruments in his MMA debut, but in addition is aware of he has a weapon that’s removed from secret. He additionally expects to point out his opponents one thing they’ve by no means witnessed earlier than.
“I believe lots of people might be stunned at my willingness and my gameness to combat and never simply search for a takedown and grapple,” Ruotolo mentioned. “However in probably the most humble approach doable, it’s been a really very long time for the reason that MMA world has seen a stage of grappling similar to my brother and I. Jiu-jitsu has been evolving a lot and altering a lot lately, wrestling is so essential, leg locks, all that is essential.
“I’m unsure if the MMA world is prepared for it. I’m excited to point out what I can do.”
Whereas his major focus stays on his upcoming combat in June, Ruotolo nonetheless plans on returning to grappling with the upcoming ADCC match in July. He additionally has a person grappling match booked in opposition to Mikey Musumeci when ONE Championship returns to the USA in September.
After that, Ruotolo needs to guide his second MMA combat.
That in all probability looks like an bold checklist of targets for any person who’s simply now debuting, however Ruotolo doesn’t wish to waste any time, particularly throughout the prime years of his athletic profession.
“I’m 21, I wish to reap the benefits of this youth,” Ruotolo mentioned. “I undoubtedly don’t wish to be combating deep into my 30s. Undoubtedly not even deep into my 20s truthfully. My complete concept is I’m getting my work accomplished now. The earlier the higher truthfully.
“I’m not right here to only turn into one other jiu-jitsu man or an MMA man. I wish to be thought-about one of many biggest fight athletes of all time.”
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