Tye Ruotolo faced a challenging match at ONE Fight Night 23: Ok vs. Rasulov on Prime Video, but he maintained his undefeated record in the promotion – by beating Jozef Chen via decision.

Reflecting on his performance, Ruotolo expressed mixed feelings about the win.
Although he was happy to secure his seventh straight victory in ONE, he felt he could have performed better.

Here’s what he had to say in an interview for ONE Championship:

I could have performed a lot better. It’s not a performance that I’m very proud of.

I didn’t have the best camp, and I didn’t feel the best way going through the fight.
It’s the fact that I won even on my worst day – it makes me happy.

But that’s not a performance that I like to have…

He also praised Chen for being a skilled and formidable opponent:

You know, he looks like a nerd online, to be honest with you. But he’s a little bit stronger in person.
But yeah, all respect to Jozef.

He’s such a good representative of Jiu-Jitsu.
Really amazing technique, and [he’s] a really good kid.

I’m really grateful to have the match with him.

Ruotolo revealed that nagging injuries and illness during training camp affected his preparation for the match:

Just within my camp, I was sick for most of it.
And even before the fight, I really was feeling a bit off.

I’ve been going through a couple little neck things.
It has kind of been affecting a little bit of my nerve, the vagus nerve.

I really wasn’t feeling great going into the match, but even on all my worst days, I just gotta man up and get it done, and that’s what I did.
I’m stoked to get it done, and in my next performance, I will be better.

I’m going to go home and get in front of everything that would prevent me from having a great performance in my next one.
I’ll perform how I’m supposed to.

 

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