Tye Ruotolo returned from Bangkok with his championship belt, yet he acknowledges leaving some room for improvement.
The ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion retained his 26-pound title for the third time, narrowly defeating IBJJF No-Gi world champion Pawel Jaworski by unanimous decision in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 41: Sinsamut vs. Jarvis, broadcasted on Prime Video on Friday, March 13.
Competing at the famed Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Tye Ruotolo faced a challenging night.
Jaworski tested the 23-year-old Californian throughout the 10-minute bout, executing a kneebar catch in the final minute and a half that nearly shifted the momentum.
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Ruotolo countered with a mounted choke and a precise triangle attempt as time ran out, leading all three judges to award him the victory. Nonetheless, the champion was aware that his performance was not up to his usual standards.
Representing the Roots of Jiu Jitsu, Ruotolo was straightforward in his post-fight reflections with ONE Championship commentator Mitch Chilson.
“Bittersweet feeling. It always feels good to come home with the belt, for sure. But I felt a little rusty in there, to say the least,” the 23-year-old shared.
He continued, “I’m normally three, four steps ahead of my opponents, and this time, I just felt a little slower than normal. A little rusty, and I think it’s just a lack of training in jiu-jitsu and too much focus on MMA, you know?”
Tye Ruotolo knows he could have done better at ONE Fight Night 41
This honesty reflects a world champion’s commitment to maintaining high standards for himself.
Throughout 2025, Ruotolo has built a 2-0 MMA record, securing submission victories over unbeaten fighters Adrian Lee and Shozo Isojima. However, returning to pure grappling revealed some rustiness.
Expect Tye Ruotolo to train intensively with his twin brother, Kade Ruotolo, who is the ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion, as he aims to demonstrate his peak performance to the division once again.
It remains uncertain whether Tye Ruotolo’s next match will be in submission grappling or MMA. Stay informed through Sportskeeda MMA for updates on the ONE world champion’s upcoming appearance in the Circle.
The full replay of ONE Fight Night 41 is available for free to active Amazon Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.
Edited by Saiyed Adeem Karim
