At ONE 171: Qatar, grappling sensation Kade Ruotolo showcased his evolving skills by submitting Argentina’s Nicolas Vigna with a head and arm choke at the Lusail Sports Arena.
The 22-year-old ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion, who recently claimed the $1 million CJI tournament victory last summer, extended his professional record to 3-0 with another impressive display of his world-class ground game.
From the outset, Ruotolo demonstrated his superior grappling prowess against Vigna, a 34-year-old competitor who entered the contest with an unverified record. The match reached its conclusion when Ruotolo secured mount position, methodically working to isolate Vigna’s arm before executing a technical head and arm choke.
The victory adds another chapter to Ruotolo’s remarkable transition into professional competition, while questions surround Vigna’s competitive future. The Argentine, who works as a Technical Coordinator of Outsourced Services at Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission, faced a significant challenge against an opponent nearly a decade his junior.
The event, presented in partnership with Visit Qatar, marked another successful expansion of ONE Championship in the Middle East region, featuring elite athletes across multiple disciplines. For Ruotolo, this victory further cements his status as one of the sport’s most promising young talents.
Kade Ruotolo (3-0) gana al argentino Nicolas Vigna (7-1) por sumisión vía triángulo de brazo en el primer asalto, el genio del grappling sigue impresionando en su transición a las MMA, a ras de lona es imparable #ONE171 pic.twitter.com/8YMLvClk8w
— Pelunaton (@pelunaton) February 20, 2025
