Tye Ruotolo will defend his ONE welterweight submission grappling championship against Pawel Jaworski at ONE Fight Night 41 on March 13th in the co-main event. After a pair of impressive MMA bouts that saw him finish previously unbeaten professionals, when asked how it feels getting back to the submission grappling space and making another title defense here, Tye Ruotolo said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yeah, it’s funny. I had so much focus on the MMA training and MMA in general. Coming back to jiu-jitsu for a second, I was kind of thinking about all the things that I was missing, right? I guess, just dusting off all the cobwebs, and yeah, it’s been really fun, that process. I didn’t really feel like I could kind of lose my jiu-jitsu. I’ve done it my whole entire life. So yeah, just the process of dusting off the cobwebs and trying to figure out all the intricate problems that you don’t necessarily get with the MMA in jiu-jitsu.”
“I’ve loved using my mind like that again. So, kind of fallen in love with jiu-jitsu again, just training it, and I’m like super excited to have the opportunity to defend my belt against someone like Pawel, a high-level leg locker who people know is very dangerous.”
When asked if he sees the leg lock game as the predominant skill set piece that he sees with Jaworksi in this championship showdown on Friday night, Tye Ruotolo stated [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yeah, Pawel, he’s a very; I would say he has one very singular way to the victory, at least in our matchup. I believe he’s got maybe one route to victory, and that’s with the leg locks. That’s his specialty, and he puts all his focus into his leg locks. It seems like from what I’ve picked up, and he’s one of the best in the world at it. One of the most dangerous guys in the world at leg locks. So, I know for sure it’s something that I can’t sleep on.”
“I do feel like his route to victory is also my strongest asset as far as defense goes. I know that my leg lock defense is probably the best in the world, in the most humble way possible. I just genuinely feel that I cannot get leg locked, and so we’re going to put that to the test here pretty soon. Pawel is super dangerous, and I’m excited to test that theory. But it’s been a long time since someone’s been on my leg, and I’m excited to test that theory.”
Tye Ruotolo: ” I’m dangerous” heading into ONE FN 41 title defense
After mentioning it seems like the titleholder is occupying a pretty grounded spot insofar as looking at Jaworski as a threat in the heel hook department, but also looking at his own game as ultimately the more multifaceted one, Tye Ruotolo quipped [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yeah, I try to be [as] realistic as possible. Sometimes it’s not good to have the fake confidence, even though confidence is good. But yeah, I know what I’m capable of and I know I’m capable of ending a match anywhere. Even with my own leg locks and arm bars, chokes, anywhere, I’m dangerous, and I know that he’s also dangerous as well. So, yeah, I just got to look at the match for what it is and come in hot.”