Tye Ruotolo will face Reinier de Ridder on May 5, in a submission grappling match at ONE Fight Night 10.
The 20-year-old is looking forward to the match and is very confident about his skills, no matter the size difference.
What’s more, he enjoys the challenge of facing a larger opponent, as he emphasized for ONE Championship:
I think all it comes down to is it’s a lot of excitement for me. I like the challenge [especially] when people think I can’t do [it].
I always work toward something that’s not impossible but really difficult.
I feel like in my division, I don’t get that same excitement. I don’t feel like I’m challenged the same way that I am with these bigger guys.So that’s why I love fighting against all the big guys.
Ruotolo admits that it’s going to be a tough match, but he’ll go for the submission from the get-go nevertheless:
It’s going to be a crazy match. A little bit of a David and Goliath situation.
So I’m excited to take him down and show the true essence of what Jiu-Jitsu is all about – going for the kill no matter the size of your opponent.
Actually, he’s planning on submitting de Ridder with a D’Arce Choke!
I plan on D’Arcing him. I know he has a good D’Arce choke, and I definitely want to show him how it’s done correctly.
I think it might take a couple of minutes, but I think the D’Arce is the way I want to get him.
I’ll take anything though. I’m a submission hunter. Whatever comes my way I’ll take first. I’m not going to pass it up.
He’s a tough guy, so I’m not going to be choosy out here.
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