"Legends working with legends" - Fans loving dream crossover between MMA icon Demetrious Johnson and the Ruotolo twins
The recent training session between reigning ONE flyweight MMA world champion Demetrious Johnson and the famed Ruotolo twins, Tye and Kade, who also hold the ONE lightweight and welterweight submission grappling world titles, has sent shockwaves throughout the combat sports community.
A short clip of that training was shared by ONE Championship on its official Instagram account, with the caption:
"Iron sharpens iron ⚔️ @mighty @ruotolobrothersjiujitsu"
The video saw Johnson and Tye Ruotolo, the welterweight submission grappling world champion, trying to submit each other down the mat in California. The former tried to pass through the guard of the latter, but it was swiftly transitioned to a D'Arce choke that eventually forced a tap out of the 'Mighty Mouse'.
This incredible moment gave delight to fans, and they showered the post with positive comments.
In fact, comments from platform users @tylerschuckmanbjj, @_francisco_oliveiraa, @aleksandr_ngaira, and @mizu528 spearheaded the messages on the video, as they wrote:
"Bro those twins are the truth 🔥🔥🔥 that darce setup was filthy"
"They make it look so easy 🔥"
"The D'Arce-tolo twins."
"Dude his technique has been upgraded to Darce Vader 😮"
Demetrious Johnson and Ruotolo brothers exchanging valuable combat sports knowledge
This training session among ONE Championship's three superstars was to further sharpen their respective arsenals, especially now that they are at a different stage in their professional careers.
The 37-year-old MMA legend aims to use the lessons he learned from the BJJ wizards in future BJJ tournaments. He is now fully focused on competing in such tournaments to secure more medals and awards.
Meanwhile, the Ruotolo brothers got a few pointers from Johnson in mixed martial arts, which they intend to use in their transition to MMA competition in the world's largest martial arts organization.
Kade, the lightweight submission grappling world champion, will be the first to make his MMA debut on June 7 when he takes on Blake Cooper in a lightweight MMA match at ONE 167 inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
ONE 167 is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.