KADE RUOTOLO

Kade Ruotolo is one half of the Ruotolo twins (with brother Tye) and one of the youngest elite-level competitors in the history of submission grappling. Born in Santa Cruz, California in 2002 and trained from a young age under Andre Galvao at Atos, Kade won the ADCC World Championship at lightweight in 2022 at age 19, becoming the youngest male ADCC champion in the tournament's history. He has remained at the elite level since, with multiple ONE Championship submission grappling titles and consistent presence in the modern competitive circuit.

Kade's competitive style is characterized by an unusually aggressive submission-hunting approach combined with the technical refinement inherited from the Atos pedagogical tradition. His use of the buggy choke from underneath side control became a signature finish across multiple ADCC and ONE Championship matches, and his willingness to attack from unconventional positions has made him one of the most-watched young competitors in modern grappling. His matches against Mikey Musumeci, Diogo Reis, and the broader lightweight modern roster have been characterized by high finish rates and stylistic variety.

Alongside his brother Tye, Kade represents the next generation of professional grapplers — competitors who have benefited from the commercialization of the sport and who can sustain full-time professional careers through ONE Championship contracts, instructional output, and tournament earnings. As of 2026 Kade continues to compete at the elite level under ONE Championship contract and remains one of the top-ranked competitors at the lightweight no-gi level.