ONE Championship: Reinier de Ridder looks to submit ‘one of best in the world’ Tye Ruotolo
- Middleweight MMA champ will meet Ruotolo in a submission grappling match at ONE Fight Night 10 – the promotion’s US debut
- He admits opponent has advantage as full-time grappler but feels well prepared after training with John Danaher and Gordon Ryan in Texas
Reinier de Ridder knows he is in for a tough challenge when he steps into the ONE Championship Circle with Tye Ruotolo next month.
The Dutchman, ONE’s reigning middleweight MMA champ, will meet American Ruotolo in a 185-pound submission grappling match at ONE Fight Night 10 on May 5 in Denver, Colorado – ONE’s debut on US soil.
While De Ridder is known for his slick submission skills in MMA, his opponent in this match is considered one of the top submission grapplers on the planet.
“He’s a full-time grappler,” the 32-year-old told the Post recently. “He’s very fast, he’s very agile, he’s a great grappler.”
“He’s been fully focused on this through the years. I haven’t been able to focus on grappling because I always have to do my wrestling, my cage-work, my striking [for MMA].
“In that regard he has the advantage.”
While Ruotolo will presumably have a technical edge at ONE Fight Night 10, De Ridder will be the larger, stronger competitor in the Circle. However, the Dutchman does not expect his physical advantages to be significant.
“I don’t think the difference will be that big,” he said. “He’s most likely gaining some weight and I have to be 93kg so I can’t gain too much. I don’t think it will be too much [difference].”