5 Facts About BJJ Star Tommy Langaker Before He Challenges Kade Ruotolo At ONE Fight Night 11
Tommy Langaker has been one of the most exciting and prolific competitors on the elite grappling circuit in recent years, and he’s hoping to crown his achievements with the sport’s biggest prize.
On Friday, June 9, the Norwegian star will challenge American phenom Kade Ruotolo for the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 11: Eersel vs. Menshikov on Prime Video.
Both men have looked unstoppable in ONE to date, and this exciting matchup will be each of their toughest tests yet – while bringing their heated rivalry to a head.
Get to know Langaker with these five interesting facts before the biggest opportunity of his career at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
#1 He’s Norway’s Greatest Grappling Export
After starting in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu as a kid, Langaker discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when he was 17, and knew he had found his true calling.
The 29-year-old quickly excelled, picking up various accolades in the colored belt ranks, including wins at the IBJJF Pan and European Championships and medals at the IBJJF World Championships.
At black belt, the Norwegian earned gold at the IBJJF European Open, as well as silver and bronze at the IBJJF World Championships in the gi.
Then in no-gi competition, he won the ADCC European Trials with seven victories to earn him a spot among the best of the best at the 2022 ADCC World Championships.
Now 2-0 in ONE, Langaker has the chance to make history as his nation’s first World Champion in the organization.
#2 He’s Learned From BJJ Legends
After starting BJJ in his native Norway, Langaker’s thirst for improvement and success saw him travel the globe.
Notably, he trained for prolonged periods at AOJ in California under the legendary Mendes brothers, Guilherme and Rafael, earning his brown belt there in 2015.
Returning home, Langaker went under the tutelage of Jose Carlos, who awarded him his black belt in 2017.
#3 He Coaches At His Own Gym
Living in the small town of Haugesund in Norway, Langaker co-founded a gym there in 2020 to help level up the local grappling scene.
Wulfling Academy – which means “Wolf Clan” – is a reference to the area’s Viking roots, and the Norwegian sensation plans to arm more of his compatriots with the skills to go out and dominate in the wider BJJ world.
Given the amount of time and expense Langaker has used to gather his knowledge, it’s no surprise that his students are already achieving success at international competitions.
#4 He’s A Trained Carpenter
Before he was able to make a full-time living from BJJ, Langaker qualified as a carpenter.
During his stints in America at AOJ, the upcoming World Title challenger returned home to work to pay for his training.
This work ethic paid off when he was able to commit all of his energy to grappling, and he’s now hoping it will pay even bigger dividends on June 9 with the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title at stake.
#5 He Loves (And Builds) Computers
In the little spare time Langaker has between training and teaching, he’s a certified computer geek.
He likes to build his own PCs, and he uses them to play online, where his favorite games include StarCraft2 and World of Warcraft.
