- Tye Ruotolo will make his mixed martial arts debut at ONE Fight Night 35: Buntan vs Hemetsberger on September 5, 2025
- Submission grappling superstar will face undefeated prodigy Adrian Lee at Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium
- Since joining ONE Championship in 2022, Ruotolo has strung together eight straight wins, dispatching some elite names
Reigning ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo has conquered every test on the mats and now, he intends to bring that same dominance and intensity into a new battlefield.
After years of anticipation, the California native will finally make his mixed martial arts debut at ONE Fight Night 35: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger on Prime Video on Friday, September 5.
That evening in U.S. primetime, he’ll kick-start his MMA career against undefeated prodigy Adrian “The Phenom” Lee at Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.
Since joining ONE Championship in 2022, Ruotolo has strung together eight straight wins, dispatching elite names such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Garry Tonon, former two-division ONE World Champion Reinier de Ridder, and former longtime featherweight MMA king Marat Gafurov.
Most recently, he defeated Canadian juggernaut Dante Leon in May to retain the ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Title.
For the 22-year-old star, who also owns an IBJJF World Title, easing into the all-encompassing sport slowly isn’t an option. Ruotolo’s MMA debut against Lee is about proving that his world-class skills can translate seamlessly under a different rule set.
He said:
“My plan is just to take out the better guys as quick as possible. I don’t care to try to beat up a bunch of taxicab drivers. My plan is to get him out and finish the fight as soon as possible with what I’m the best at: jiu-jitsu. Slick and quick. That’s the plan.”
Ruotolo has always sought out the toughest competition, whether it meant stepping into heavier weight classes or testing himself against highly touted athletes. His MMA debut follows the same logic.
By calling out Lee, an undefeated 19-year-old sensation with three consecutive submission victories, the Californian is once again chasing the most dangerous challenge available.
He added:
“I didn’t call him out because he’s a slouch. I didn’t call him out because I think it’s gonna be super easy. I called him out because he’s really good and because it’s gonna be a good win on the resume. I’ve got a lot of respect for the kid and the family, for sure.”
“The Phenom,” who comes from the legendary Lee family, has shown tremendous potential to become a future ONE World Champion. His fierce striking and suffocating grappling prowess have already earned him three consecutive US$50,000 performance bonuses from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Ruotolo knows the danger Lee presents, but respect doesn’t mean hesitation. With a stand-up arsenal sharpened under Eric Paulson and his Classic Fight Team stable, he’s eager to prove that he’s more than just a BJJ stylist. With that, the Californian is confident he can surprise anyone expecting a one-dimensional MMA debut.
The ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion said:
“It’s gonna be a big surprise. I know my striking, I know what I’m capable of, and I’m excited to put it to the test, too. The way the match is gonna go, I’m either gonna submit him in the first minute, or we’re gonna be striking. Either way, I’m excited.
“I think it’s either gonna be an extremely fast submission within the first minute, or it’s gonna be a late round two finish by either TKO or submission.”
Tye Ruotolo’s vision extends beyond one match. A successful MMA debut at ONE Fight Night 35 would send a clear signal to the stacked lightweight division that the Californian intends to be a serious player for years to come.
The welterweight submission grappling king isn’t just carving out his own path in the all-encompassing sport. Instead, he is continuing the trail blazed by his twin brother, ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo, who has gone 3-0 in MMA since making the transition last year.
Ultimately, that ambition could place him on a collision course with Christian “The Warrior” Lee, the reigning ONE Lightweight and Welterweight MMA World Champion. He also happens to be the older brother and coach of Adrian Lee.
For Ruotolo, nothing is off the table. He wants to dive straight into the deepest end of the competition waters.
And if all goes well in Ruotolo’s MMA debut at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on September 5, it could be the first step toward one day sharing the stage with the divisional king. That kind of goal might take some time, but Ruotolo believes his skill set is already dangerous enough to trouble anyone standing across from him.
The California prodigy said:
“I think we’re ready to go. It would probably be something to talk with the team about, you know? But yeah, I’m ready to go. I know in my heart that I’m not scared of anyone, and I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to scrap. I know that I’m capable of putting away anybody in the world quickly, so yeah, I think we would be ready for [Christian Lee].”