Tye Ruotolo’s transition from elite grappler to mixed martial artist is moving fast.
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu phenom has officially booked his second professional MMA fight, taking on Shozo Isojima at ONE 173 on November 16th!
The matchup comes less than ten weeks after Ruotolo’s impressive debut at ONE Fight Night 35, where he dominated fellow rising star Adrian Lee before securing a second-round finish.
Despite being new to MMA, Ruotolo showed remarkable composure and control, taking minimal damage — a key factor that made this quick turnaround possible.
But the 21-year-old isn’t taking the easy route. Isojima, his next opponent, is also undefeated and far more experienced.
Holding a 6–0 record, Isojima has faced seasoned veterans with over a dozen fights to their name, amassing more than an hour of total cage time — roughly seven times what Ruotolo has logged so far.
Isojima also made his mark in ONE Championship recently, stopping Nicolas Vigna in the second round at ONE Fight Night 36.
His blend of durability and experience makes him a significant step up in competition for Ruotolo, who will need to rely on his grappling pedigree and fast-improving striking to secure another statement win.
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