5 Things To Know About BJJ Prodigy Jozef Chen Before He Faces Tye Ruotolo At ONE Fight Night 23
Promotional newcomer Jozef Chen will soon square off with reigning ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo in a clash of true Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenoms.
Slated for U.S. primetime on July 5 at ONE Fight Night 23 on Prime Video, that non-title 186-pound catchweight submission grappling tilt in Bangkok is sure to draw the attention of BJJ fans around the globe.
For Chen, the matchup represents an opportunity to take out one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound stars and emphatically announce his presence in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Before these elite grapplers enter the ring at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, here are five facts about the 19-year-old prodigy.
#1 He Became A World-Class Star In Just Five Years
Unlike other young phenoms – such as Mikey Musumeci and the Ruotolo brothers – Chen didn’t start training in BJJ as soon as he could walk.
Instead, he took his first class at 14 years old, making his meteoric rise to the upper echelon of the world-class competition scene all the more impressive.
#2 He Learned From Instructional Videos
Notably, Chen’s early years in grappling weren’t spent at a world-renowned gym training alongside top international talent.
While he’s quick to credit his first coaches for creating an environment that was conducive to rapid improvement, much of the teenager’s incredible growth was due to his methodical approach to learning from instructional videos.
Chen would watch the videos, focus on portions that he felt applied well to his game, closely study those techniques, and then practice them with different training partners at the gym.
#3 He Beat Some Massive Names To Win The ADCC Trials
Chen was already on the radar of most grappling fans as early as 2022, but he enjoyed his breakout moment in 2023 at the ADCC European Trials, defeating a who’s who of top talent in a single day.
In the tournament quarterfinals, he took out dangerous Polish leg-locker Mateusz Szczecinski, which was followed by a victory over IBJJF World Champion and two-time ONE World Title challenger Tommy Langaker.
Then in the final, Chen earned a thrilling win over decorated veteran black belt Oliver Taza in one of the most electrifying matches of the year.
#4 He Trains At B-Team In Texas
Although he frequently travels the world to train at a wide variety of gyms, Chen’s home base is now typically the famed B-Team in Austin, Texas.
With popular Australian grappler Craig Jones at the helm, B-Team is the top training spot for countless elite no-gi competitors, including heavyweight standout Nick Rodriguez, master technician Nicky Ryan, and accomplished veteran Ethan Crelinsten.
Those highly regarded athletes are pushing Chen to the limit each and every day as he prepares for Ruotolo.
#5 He Has A Multicultural Heritage
The 19-year-old represents a melting pot of cultures.
Chen was born in Taipei to a South African-German mother and a Taiwanese father. He spent his childhood living in different parts of Asia, including Malaysia, Qatar, and various places in China.
Now, he’s hoping to earn an impressive victory in Thailand when he debuts against Tye Ruotolo at ONE Fight Night 23.
