Kade Ruotolo: The Youngest ADCC Champion in History

Kade Ruotolo is one of the fastest-rising names in combat sports. He became the youngest ADCC world champion ever at 19 years old, then took his heel hook game into ONE Championship, where he holds a grappling title and an undefeated MMA record.

Who Is Kade Ruotolo?

Kade Ruotolo was born on January 22, 2003, in Maui, Hawaii, and grew up training in Huntington Beach, California, alongside his twin brother Tye. He was promoted to black belt on December 14, 2021, by André Galvão at just 18 years old, according to Wikipedia.

How He Started

Ruotolo came up through Atos Jiu-Jitsu and Art of Jiu Jitsu (AOJ) under Galvão's system, winning IBJJF World titles at brown belt in both 2019 and 2021 before he'd even earned his black belt. That early dominance made him one of the most hyped prospects in the sport heading into his senior career.

Competitive Record and Notable Wins

In 2022, Ruotolo entered the ADCC World Championship at -77kg and submitted every opponent he faced, including a heel hook finish over Mica Galvão in the final, becoming the youngest ADCC world champion in history at 19. That same year, he submitted Uali Kurzhev with a heel hook to win the inaugural ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship, a title he has defended multiple times since, per ONE Championship. In 2024, he skipped ADCC to compete at the Craig Jones Invitational instead, winning his division alongside his brother.

Fighting Style and Signature Techniques

Ruotolo's game is built around fast-paced scrambles and leg entanglements, with the heel hook as his most dangerous finish. He pairs that no-gi foundation with real MMA output, holding a professional record of 4-0 with three submissions and one knockout across ONE Championship promotions, including bouts at ONE 167, ONE 169, and ONE 171.

Legacy and Current Status

Ruotolo was named ONE Championship's Fighter of the Year for 2024, reflecting his rare double life as an active grappling champion and undefeated MMA prospect. He's part of the same modern no-gi generation as stars like Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones, and at just 23 years old, he's still adding to a résumé that already ranks among the fastest-built in the sport's history.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old was Kade Ruotolo when he won ADCC? He was 19, making him the youngest ADCC world champion ever when he won the -77kg division in 2022.

What titles does Kade Ruotolo hold in ONE Championship? He holds the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship, won in 2022, and has an undefeated MMA record in ONE Championship.

Who promoted Kade Ruotolo to black belt? André Galvão promoted him to black belt on December 14, 2021.

Is Kade Ruotolo related to another top grappler? Yes. He has a twin brother, Tye Ruotolo, who is also a top competitor.

What is Kade Ruotolo's professional MMA record? He is 4-0 as of his most recent ONE Championship fights, with three submissions and one knockout.

The Bottom Line

Kade Ruotolo compressed a career's worth of milestones into a few years: youngest ADCC champion ever, a ONE Championship grappling belt, and an undefeated start in MMA. He's still only in his early twenties.