The 22-year-old BJJ star will compete in his second MMA fight following his decision victory over Adrian “The Phenom” Lee in September. Meanwhile, Isojima plans to hand Ruotolo his first-ever loss in MMA competition and the ONE Championship in its entirety.
The match between the two wrestling sensations promises a dramatic ending as someone’s perfect MMA record will be destroyed in Tokyo.
Ruotolo respects the credentials of Japanese athletes
The Tenore representative acknowledged the legitimate threat posed by his undefeated opponent as he expressed genuine excitement about competing in the Circle for the first time in his MMA career.
“Shozo Isojima is another formidable opponent. He’s also undefeated. I’m excited about it. I haven’t fought in the Circle yet. [in MMA]so I’m excited about it,” Ruotolo said.
The BJJ prodigy has amassed a perfect 9-0 record in the ONE Championship with 5 finishes since joining the promotion in May 2022. The twin brother of ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion Kade Ruotolo has conquered multiple weight classes to prove himself as perhaps the best pound-for-pound grappler in the world, capturing the first ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Title in November 2023.
Isojima brings impressive performances to this lightweight contest, having recently dominated Argentine veteran Nicolas Vigna with a back-naked choke submission in October to secure his sixth consecutive professional win.
American star Ruotolo Eyes Spectacular head kick finish
Ruotolo made a bold prediction for his second MMA fight, expressing confidence in his development of striking skills while acknowledging the unpredictable nature of MMA competition. The American wrestler’s willingness to pursue striking results demonstrates his dedication to becoming a complete MMA fighter.
“Maybe we can do a sick head-kick KO. That would be great. If I had to mention it, I really think something like that could happen. If not, who knows where the match could take us,” Ruotolo predicted.
The ambitious prediction suggests that Ruotolo has invested a lot of time developing his stand-up arsenal, in addition to the elite wrestling skills that made him a world champion. His successful MMA debut against Lee showcased his ability to seamlessly combine striking and wrestling, ultimately securing a submission finish against the highly touted prospect.
Wrestling champion Ruotolo identifies Isojima’s weaknesses
Ruotolo shared his assessment of the 28-year-old’s fighting style, identifying specific strengths in isometric control while noting potential weaknesses when exchanges become chaotic. The Californian’s detailed analysis demonstrates his analytical approach to battle preparation.
“He looked like he had some strength. He has some isometric strength. He seems like he’s comfortable holding guys back. But when he’s in a gunfight, it seems like he kind of backs away from it,” Ruotolo said.
The assessment suggests Ruotolo plans to pressure Japan’s chief executive into uncomfortable strike trades while remaining willing to take advantage of opportunities that arise. His transition from pure submission wrestling to MMA has been seamless so far, although Isojima is a major test of his continued development.
In the United States and Canada you can watch ONE 173: Superbon vs. Watch Noiri live on pay-per-view exclusively on live.onefc.com at 11pm ET/8pm PT on Saturday, November 15.
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