“There will be constant submission attempts” - Kade Ruotolo envisions high-octane war against Mikey Musumeci in Denver
Kade Ruotolo expects his scrap with fellow ONE world champion Mikey Musmumeci to be fast and furious for however long it lasts.
On Friday, September 6, two of the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners on the planet will clash when ONE Championship heads back to The Mile High City for ONE 168: Denver — a stacked night of fights headlined by a Muay Thai title fight between two-sport king Jonathan Haggerty and ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9.
In the co-main event of the evening, Ruotolo will put his ONE lightweight submission grappling world title on the line when he meets Musumeci — the promotion's reigning flyweight submission grappling world champ.
With Ruotolo and Musumeci bringing a high-octane style to the Circle every time they compete, the former believes fans are in for a real treat when they collide on the biggest global stage of martial arts.
“It’s going to be a true clash of technique," Ruotolo told Sports Illustrated. "There will be constant submission attempts. We’re stoked – it’s going to be a great one for the fans.”
Kade Ruotolo and Mikey Musumeci put their unbeaten records on the line at ONE 168: Denver
Since making his promotional debut in May 2022, Kade Ruotolo has built an impressive 7-0 record inside the Circle. Along the way, he's earned noteworthy wins against Uali Kurzhev, Tommy Langaker, and Francisco Lo.
Ruotolo also impressed in his mixed martial arts debut in June, earning a first-round submission victory over Blake Cooper at ONE 167.
Like Ruotolo, Mikey Musumeci carries a perfect record with him into ONE 168: Denver, besting all seven of his opponents, including interim ONE strawweight MMA world champion Jarred Brooks, Japanese icon Shinya Aoki, and long-time rival Gabriel Sousa.
Will 'Darth Rigatoni' make history and become ONE Championship's first-ever two-division submission grappling world champion, or will Ruotolo keep his 'O' and his title intact in The Centennial State?
Follow this link for tickets for ONE 168: Denver on September 6 at Ball Arena.