Grappling standout Tye Ruotolo set for ONE welterweight title fight

Tye Ruotolo, currently 2-0 in professional mixed martial arts, is preparing for his third MMA bout. Since moving from grappling to the cage, he has recorded two rear-naked choke victories. Ruotolo stated his goal is to compete against the world's elite rather than lower-ranked opposition as he challenges Christian Lee for the welterweight belt.

While Ruotolo is focused on the upcoming title match, he maintains plans to stay active in both MMA and the grappling circuit. The 23-year-old noted that the transition to MMA has provided a new sense of motivation, describing the learning process as feeling like a white belt again. He intends to continue defending his belts across both disciplines after Friday's championship fight.