ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo successfully defended his title against Tommy Langaker at ONE 165!
The match kicked off with an intense wrestling exchange, setting the tone for what was to come. Ruotolo, known for his aggressive style, initiated the action with an Armbar attempt – followed by a Leg Lock.
Langaker, resilient as ever, managed to fend off these attacks, including Ruotolo’s Armbar hunt from the Crucifix position.
Ruotolo’s most threatening moments came from two D’Arce Choke attempts – with the second one looking particularly decisive.
Langaker, however, showcased his remarkable resilience yet again; escaping even when it seemed that there might be no escape whatsoever.
As the 10-minute clash neared its end, both competitors exchanged leg attacks, but neither could secure the finish.
In the end, Ruotolo won via unanimous decision – and also secured a $50,000 performance bonus.
And yes, he was more than satisfied with his win, as he expressed in a post-fight interview:
I was a lot more dominant this time around.
I’m super stoked, super happy to retain the belt, especially to come back to Japan [and do it]. I’m just really thankful.Full respect to Tommy. He’s an amazing Jiu-Jitsu competitor.
Not a whole lot surprised me, but his resilience was definitely impressive.He’s not an easy guy to put away by any means.
It wasn’t any lack of effort on my part.
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