Kade Ruotolo fairly frankly doesn’t want MMA.
For somebody raking in dough on the earth of grappling, together with a $1 million prize pocketed at 2024 Craig Jones Invitational, the drive clearly isn’t in regards to the cash.
Initially, Ruotolo (1-0) couldn’t reply the query of “Why get punched within the head while you don’t must?”
It took him a short time to determine it out, however forward of his second professional bout Nov. 8 at ONE Championship 169 in Bangkok, Ruotolo has a solution.
“Firstly of the yr, I used to be actually, virtually –not misplaced, however I didn’t precisely perceive what I wished to be recognized for so far as legacy goes,” Ruotolo informed MMA Junkie. “I used to be sitting again considering, and it’s truly when I discovered God and began going to church a bit. It actually helped me so far as readability goes. I notice I’m not simply making an attempt to turn into one of the best at jiu-jitsu. I actually determined I wished to turn into the most effective martial artists of all time.”
Ruotolo, 21, and his twin brother Tye are grappling prodigies who started coaching at three. At age 18, Ruotolo was awarded a black belt by Andre Galvao. In 2022 at age 19, he turned the youngest particular person to ever win an ADCC World Championship.
MMA offers him the chance to study and develop. He thinks that potential is way more restricted in grappling.
“So as to be the most effective martial artists of all time, you’ve obtained to do all of it: jiu-jitsu, wrestling, MMA, placing, wrestling, boxing, all these martial arts,” Ruotolo mentioned. “That’s actually my aim. My coach Erik Paulson, he’s a real martial artist. He is aware of the whole lot, each form of Jeet Kune Do, jiu-jitsu, boxing, wrestling. He is aware of all of it. I need to be like him. He’s an enormous inspiration for me.
“That’s the aim: to turn into a full martial artist. I really feel like in jiu-jitsu, I’ve gotten to the highest of the mountain in probably the most humble means attainable. My brother and I just about completed the whole lot you’ll be able to in jiu-jitsu. So with that being mentioned, the following huge mountain is MMA. It’s clearly an enormous mountain to climb with plenty of scraps alongside the way in which, however that’s the place I need to be.”
In June, Ruotolo made his MMA debut when he shortly disposed of Blake Cooper (2-2) with a rear-naked choke submission on the 3:20 mark of Spherical 1. Ruotolo was happy with the efficiency, however needs he might’ve proven off extra of his different expertise outdoors of grappling.
This time round, Ruotolo faces Ahmed Mujtaba (10-4) and hopes to show some placing, although shall be looking for the win over all else, in fact. From there, it’ll be time to heal some accidents, just like the one which compelled him out of a September grappling match vs. Mikey Musemeci.
“I’ve talked to 2 folks about the identical harm and so they gave me two fully various kinds of recommendation – full opposites,” Ruotolo mentioned. “One particular person goes, ‘No, get the surgical procedure now as a result of should you don’t get it now, it’s going to tear all over.’ Then somebody informed me, ‘No, don’t do surgical procedure. Do stem cells and simply let it heal naturally. The surgical procedure, you’re out for a yr, proper?’ I’m form of torn, in between. I’ve obtained two torn labrums in the mean time, in every hip. I’ve simply obtained to determine that out. Proper now, I’m extra leaning towards (that) I don’t need to take a yr off. That’s not likely an choice for me. I’m extra so within the ‘simply attempt to get well it.’”
If relaxation and restoration goes nicely, Ruotolo hopes to have an enormous 2025 with three MMA fights in addition to the key grappling tournaments. With only one MMA bout below his belt, Ruotolo thinks it’s inevitable he makes an enormous impression on the earth of preventing.
“To be fully sincere with you, in probably the most humble means attainable, I’m a really mentally sturdy particular person,” Ruotolo mentioned. “If you happen to had been to take the champion within the division and inform me, ‘If you happen to had been to battle him tomorrow, how would you do?’ I really feel like I’d get the ‘W.’ But it surely’s not likely a lot about skyrocketing straight to the highest as a lot as it’s gaining these experiences. For me and my coaches, that’s one factor they’re actually huge on. They really need me to have as many experiences as attainable earlier than I actually do get the belt. I’m undoubtedly clearly actually inexperienced when it comes as much as the MMA world.
“There’s plenty of variables and plenty of issues to study. Daily I’m studying a lot. That’s why I like it a lot. It’s been a very long time since I’ve realized one thing each single day. It’s simply refreshing. With that being mentioned, our coaches are simply actually huge on expertise and that’s the aim. Actually anybody other than the champ, and we’ll get there finally.”
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