The stage is set for a massive night of submission grappling when ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo returns to action—not once, but twice in the coming months.
First, the 23-year-old American phenom will make his long-awaited comeback from injury in lightweight MMA action against Hiroyuki "Japanese Beast" Tetsuka on Friday, May 15. But the real fireworks come just six weeks later, when Ruotolo puts his World Title on the line against one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's most dangerous forces.
On Friday, June 26, Ruotolo will defend his belt against Fabricio "Hokage" Andrey at The Inner Circle, streaming live from Bangkok's iconic Lumpinee Stadium exclusively on live.onefc.com. This marks Ruotolo's fourth World Title defense—and arguably his most challenging yet.
Ruotolo has rapidly cemented his status as one of the most gifted grapplers of his generation. The California-based BJJ black belt burst onto the global stage in May 2022, earning a unanimous decision victory over Japanese legend Shinya "Tobikan Judan" Aoki in his promotional debut. Just five months later, he forced Uali Kurzhev to tap out and claimed the inaugural ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title.
Since capturing the crown, Ruotolo has successfully defended it three times—defeating Brazil's Matheus Gabriel once and Norway's Tommy Langaker twice, all via unanimous decision. His submission hunting skills, relentless top game, and fast-paced attacking style have made him one of the most exciting competitors in the sport today.
But Ruotolo's talents extend beyond the grappling mat. He's also made an equally stunning impression in MMA, racking up three consecutive first-round victories—each more impressive than the last. Now, as the youngest ADCC World Champion in history, he faces perhaps his most dangerous test yet.
Standing across from him will be Fabricio Andrey, a Brazilian force born and raised in the BJJ hotbed of Manaus—a city known for producing some of the sport's most ferocious competitors. With a professional grappling record of 106-27, Andrey has done everything right to earn his shot at glory. This is a clash of generations, styles, and nations—and one you won't want to miss.
