Kade Ruotolo To Make MMA Debut Against Blake Cooper At ONE 167 On June 7
ONE 167: Stamp vs. Zamboanga on Prime Video will be a historic night for American superstar Kade Ruotolo.
On Friday, June 7, in U.S. primetime, the reigning ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion will make his long-awaited mixed martial arts debut in a lightweight bout against compatriot Blake Cooper at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ruotolo has been cross-training to make the switch for several years, even offering to face Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki under MMA rules at ONE 165 in January. Now, fans will finally see how his incredible grappling skills stack up in the all-encompassing sport.
The Californian has always been known as a prodigious talent, winning masses of accolades as he rose through the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ranks. By 19, he had already reached the pinnacle of submission grappling with prestigious ADCC and ONE World Titles.
Following three successful defenses of his lightweight crown in the world’s largest martial arts organization, it was always a question of when the 21-year-old would transition to MMA for a new challenge.
Ruotolo’s aggressive skill set in both gi and no-gi competitions should provide a solid foundation as he works on his striking skills. But he’ll have a tough first test in the experienced Cooper.
The Hawaiian was raised in MMA thanks to his fighting father and posted an undefeated record as an amateur. He then went on a winning streak in the professional ranks before tasting defeat for the first time in his ONE Championship debut at the hands of Maurice Abevi last September.
Still, Cooper has spent years honing his craft and blending the ranges, evident in a resume that includes both knockout and submission wins.
Fans tuning in to see Ruotolo’s MMA debut on June 7 will also be treated to a pair of World Title headliners.
In the main event, Stamp Fairtex puts her ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Title on the line against her friend and former training partner Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga, while Tawanchai PK Saenchai defends his ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship against fellow Thai star “Smokin” Jo Nattawut.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE 167: Stamp vs. Zamboanga on Prime Video.
