‘This Is What They Call Cloud Nine’ – Tye Ruotolo Basks In Two-Sport Glory After Historic Victory At The Inner Circle 37
While most fighters spend a lifetime chasing a single peak, a 23-year-old grappling prodigy just conquered an entirely new sport in only his third mixed martial arts appearance.
ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo claimed dual-sport glory with stunning efficiency at The Inner Circle 37, dethroning Christian “The Warrior” Lee via a first-round rear-naked choke to capture the ONE Lightweight MMA World Title.
The historic champion-versus-champion superfight unfolded on Friday, November 6, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium, streaming exclusively for members at live.onefc.com.
Despite the inherent respect between two legendary martial arts dynasties, this battle started long before the opening bell. The memory of Ruotolo choking out the defending champion’s younger brother, Adrian “The Phenom” Lee, lingered heavily, leaving the Singaporean-American superstar seeking definitive comeuppance.
Ruotolo, however, refused to blink against the winningest fighter in the promotion. The pair exchanged death stares upon entering the ring, trading verbal jabs just as heavily as they would eventually exchange strikes.
Unfazed by the animosity, the American trusted the grueling preparation logged long before stepping under the bright lights.
The 23-year-old told onefc.com:
“I had a lot of confidence when he was coming into the ring. It took a second because we were talking a lot, kind of making us more emotional, maybe pulling us both out of our game plans.
“Eventually I started locking back in. After I gave him one good jab, I started to feel good.”
What followed fundamentally shifted the division. Instead of desperately forcing the fight to the canvas, the grappling ace planted his feet and dropped “The Warrior” with a crisp one-two, following him to the mat with heavy ground-and-pound.
Sensing the finish was near, the Roots of Jiu-Jitsu representative seamlessly returned to his foundational base. Ruotolo quickly secured the back and locked in a fight-ending rear-naked choke — a clinical hold he has perfected countless times throughout his decorated grappling career.
He recalled:
“I knew he was well-rounded, so I wanted to be more well-rounded. I wanted to be much better at striking.
“I knew my grappling was better, so it was a lot of striking for the camp. I didn’t focus too much on my grappling because I knew I’d be able to submit him there. I just wanted to make sure I could rock him and get the fight to where I needed to go.”
Stopping the most prolific finisher in ONE Championship MMA history inside the opening frame is an achievement few could even visualize. To execute it practically unscathed is extraordinary.
The flawless victory completely cements Ruotolo’s staggering evolution. Less than a year into his MMA transition, he stands entirely unrivaled, fully prepared for whatever challenges await his dual-sport reign.
He stated:
“Nothing shook me. No little leg kicks. Nothing crazy. Nothing hurt.
“Christian Lee was my main aim, so I got it done, and I’m the champion. I’m going to go home and enjoy, and whoever deserves a shot at the championship, I’ll be ready to go.”
Ruotolo Embraces 52 Pounds Of Gold
Tye Ruotolo has officially stepped into rarefied air, eagerly shouldering the immense weight of his two crowns.
The youngest IBJJF World Champion has compiled a pristine 12-0 promotional slate, effortlessly translating his submission grappling dominance directly into mixed martial arts glory. Fully embracing the heavy responsibility of dual reigns, the California native refuses to slow down.
He shared:
“I gotta fight a lot, you know, and stay healthy for sure. It’s going to be important, but I plan on defending both of them as much as I can.
“Whichever one you guys want [me to defend], let me know. Anything you guys want.”
Becoming the first athlete to simultaneously hold gold in submission grappling and MMA marks a historic milestone, but Ruotolo is far from finished expanding his legacy.
While defending his twin belts remains the immediate priority, he recognizes the endless opportunities across a promotion that hosts the highest levels of multiple combat disciplines. For now, the double champion is reveling in his historic triumph, but fans should not be surprised if his pursuit of greatness eventually leads to even more uncharted territory.
He concluded:
“Maybe right now it’s really hard to do everything, but one day I’m going to do a Muay Thai fight.
“I’m so grateful and happy. I keep saying the same thing, but there’s no other explanation. This is what they call cloud nine.”
