Tye Ruotolo reveals MMA debut against Adrian Lee is in the works
Elite BJJ competitor Tye Ruotolo expects to make his professional MMA debut this year, potentially against Adrian Lee.
It’s no small secret that Tye Ruotolo has been planning to compete in MMA, and now that plan seems to be coming to fruition.
The 22-year-old is set to defend his ONE welterweight submission grappling world title against familiar foe Dante Leon this Friday at ONE Fight Night 31. After that match, though, he might switch his focus to the all-around sport of MMA.
Ruotolo recently told the Bangkok Post that he expects to make his MMA debut later this year. His potential opponent, he said, is undefeated American prospect Adrian “The Phenom” Lee:
“Yes, 100 per cent I will be here scrapping [in MMA] by the end of the year, guaranteed.
“I know someone was sending the Adrian Lee match out – I don’t even know if I’m allowed to talk about that or not. But it sounds sick, I’m down for it.”
For Ruotolo, a foray into MMA would be following in the footsteps of his twin brother, fellow ONE submission grappling world champion Kade Ruotolo. Tye has been ringside for each of Kade’s three professional MMA wins, and that experience has only fueled his fire to make the switch himself:
“Whoever they want to send my way, I’m ready for my debut match. I’m just excited to get in the ring. I’ve seen my brother do three MMA fights now and each time I was just chomping at the bit. I just wanted to get in there with him.”
As a consensus top-10 pound-for-pound grappler who could further cement himself as one of BJJ’s best generational talents with a win over Leon, Ruotolo would immediately become one of MMA’s hottest prospects, were he to transition to the sport.
Lee would represent an intriguing opponent. The younger brother of current two-division ONE world champion Christian Lee and former ONE world champion Angela Lee, “The Phenom” comes from a line of decorated MMA fighters. In addition to a wealth of amateur MMA experience, Lee boasts a 3-0 professional record with three finishes.
A clash between Ruotolo and Lee would mark a meeting between two of the sport’s most promising young stars.
While Ruotolo has competed in ONE’s welterweight division (185 pounds), he expects to drop down to lightweight (170 pounds) for his MMA debut:
“Yeah, lightweight for MMA, 170 [pounds], that’s where I’ll be fighting for MMA. Welterweight, 185, it’s a little bit heavy for me.
“I can make 170 for sure. The only reason that I don’t is because Kade’s there. For MMA it will be a lot easier to fight smaller guys.”
For the time being, Ruotolo is focused on defending his submission grappling gold against Leon at ONE Fight Night 31. The pair has met twice before, going 1-1 against each other.
How to watch: Tye Ruotolo vs. Dante Leon takes place on Friday, May 2, 2025, at ONE Fight Night 31 and will air live on Prime Video (free with Amazon Plus subscription) beginning at 9:00 PM EST.
