Kade Ruotolo will sq. off with Francisco Lo in a 180-pound submission grappling match at ONE Battle Night time 21.
Present ONE light-weight submission grappling world champion Kade Ruotolo will quickly return to motion in a non-title match towards elite black belt competitor Francisco Lo.
That matchup is scheduled to go down on Friday, April 5, at ONE Battle Night time 21 from the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Sports Illustrated broke the information of the 180-pound catchweight tilt on Thursday.
The reigning 77kg ADCC champion along with the ONE titleholder, Ruotolo is extensively regarded among the many sport’s prime pound-for-pound rivals. He’s undefeated in ONE throughout 5 matches, most lately securing his second consecutive victory over present IBJJF no-gi world champion Tommy Langaker in January at ONE 165.
Since then, the 21-year-old has dipped his toes again into the world of gi competitors as he prepares for a run on the 2024 IBJJF Worlds. In February, he made his gi black belt debut, scoring an entertaining factors victory over Natan Chueng on the IBJJF Grand Prix. Last weekend, Ruotolo competed on the IBJJF Dallas Open the place he took residence gold in a one-man division and third within the absolute.
Lo will probably be making his ONE Championship debut towards Ruotolo. A 2023 IBJJF No-Gi Pans champion, the Brazilian burst onto the scene in 2022 with beautiful submission victories over veterans Oliver Taza and Adam Wardzinski. He has since additional solidified his standing as a world-class competitor with victories over the likes of William Tackett, Joao Costa, and Jacob “The Hillbilly Hammer” Couch.
Ruotolo will probably be closely favored on this matchup, however that doesn’t imply Lo received’t current a stiff check. Lo has confirmed himself to be one in every of jiu-jitsu’s most progressive and harmful submission hunters, able to find distinctive leg locks in addition to triangle chokes from any place.
For his half, Ruotolo will look to keep away from Lo’s submission assault by making use of his trademark, relentless pacing. Followers can anticipate the Californian to keep away from Lo’s closed guard in any respect prices, aggressively cross from the skin, and continuously hunt his foe’s again with berimbolos and leg drags.
Ruotolo will probably be becoming a member of his twin brother, Tye Ruotolo, who will probably be placing his ONE welterweight submission grappling world title on the road within the night’s co-main occasion towards ADCC veteran Izaak Michell.
Tips on how to watch: Kade Ruotolo vs. Francisco Lo takes place on April 5 at ONE Battle Night time 21 and can air stay on Prime Video (free with Amazon Plus subscription) starting at 8:00 PM EST.
