In the aftermath of their intense match at the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), Tye Ruotolo has accused Jason Nolf of greasing, a claim that Nolf appears to have playfully acknowledged on social media.
The accusation came after their highly anticipated opening match in the under 80 kilogram division, which saw Ruotolo secure a victory via kneebar submission. Despite the thrilling back-and-forth nature of the contest, controversy has arisen regarding Nolf’s alleged use of a slippery substance during the match.
In a post-match interview, Ruotolo stated, “I didn’t notice it for the first few minutes, you know, because I was all uptight and I went for a single leg or something, my ankle pick. And I felt like I was just dripping on the fricking bar soap.” Ruotolo claims he confronted Nolf about the issue, saying, “I asked him. He’s like, ‘Yeah, I leave and I can leave.’ You admitted it.”
Nolf, known for his elite wrestling background, seemed to address the situation with humor on social media. In response to a comment suggesting Ruotolo had said, “oh you use your legs,” Nolf replied, “I thought he said ‘oh you grease your legs’ and I said yeah after I broke his grip with my knee.” He followed up with another comment, stating, “I did shave my legs though,” accompanied by a shower emoji.
The exchange has reignited the ongoing debate in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community about the use of greasing and other performance-enhancing methods. Greasing, which involves applying lubricants to make it harder for opponents to grip or hold during a match, is generally considered illegal in most major BJJ promotions.
Nolf proceeded to post a video on social media of himself putting lotion on his calves.
