It won’t be long before the ADCC 2022 winner changes gears and looks to cross over to the mixed martial arts world.

Following a heel hook submission of Sambo world champion Uali Kurzhev, Ruotolo discussed making the transition to MMA with media outlets including Cageside Press.

“Guaranteed, guaranteed. I’ve been working it [MMA] a bit more,” Ruotolo told the media following Friday’s big win in Kuala Lumpur. “Kind of had to hit the brakes a little bit, I had that huge ADCC tournament and then now this, but I’m gonna continue working these hands, and my goal is early next year, to start mixing it up and then have that MMA debut. Beyond ecstatic for that as well.”

Ruotolo would later address the time frame of his anticipated MMA debut, and he clearly hopes it’s sooner rather than later.

“Guaranteed next year without a doubt, we’ll be in the cage, or the circle, with the gloves on. As far as what exact month, I can’t be certain, there’s not a specific date that we have signed,” he stated. “But definitely preferably within the first six months of next year, guaranteed, for sure.”

Asked by Cageside Press if he could make an immediate impact in MMA in an era where single-discipline dominance often isn’t enough, Ruotolo said he expects to make some “big waves” — but he’s no stranger to striking.

“I’ve been training jiu-jitsu my entire life, obviously that’s my strong suit,” Ruotolo explained. “However I love striking. It’s not like I’m just now picking it up. Over the years, striking, I think about 12-years old, we were training a bit of Muay Thai for a couple years. So I have a bit in me, it’s not like I’m completely new to the game. And I’m falling in love with it every day. It’s very new to me. Jiu-jitsu, not that I don’t love it of course, I’ve been doing it my entire life.”

“I’m learning every day and it’s refreshing. I’m just going to keep refining my skills, and I do believe the second I step in that circle, I’m going to make some big waves for sure.”

Both Kade Ruotolo and his twin brother Tye have found considerable success in the grappling world, but he was blunt on Friday about the tendency of fighters there to cheat. Picking up wins over those who would cut corners and use PEDs for an advantage, however, is a feather in his cap, he agreed.

“Absolutely, 100%. That’s honestly — I feel like at the end of the day, that’s almost what my brother and I pride ourselves most on. Obviously the wins are great, the belts are great, all the accolades are amazing. But at the end of the day, I almost feel like we’re out there trying to support the big picture, just trying to get some change in the sport,” said Ruotolo. “Because like I said, I truly believe 98, 99 percent of athletes in jiu-jitsu are on some sort of performance enhancing drug.”

Watch the full ONE on Prime Video 3 post-fight media appearance by Kade Ruotolo above.

The post ONE’s Kade Ruotolo Says 98% of BJJ Athletes Are on PEDs, Wants to Make “Big Waves” in MMA Next Year appeared first on Cageside Press.

At Thursday’s weigh-ins, Lineker was unable to meet the 145lb bantamweight title limit and was thus stripped of his belt. Only Andrade would be eligible to win the title in this main event, which would be the 25-year old former Muay Thai fighter’s first attempt at winning a belt.

The taller, southpaw Andrade came out of the gate pressuring forward with half steps and trading low kicks with Lineker. The jab of Andrade began to mark up Lineker’s face and a step in knee hurt him. A hard roundhouse kick started a swarm of blows that stumbled Lineker back against the cage but as Andrade charged forward Lineker shot a double leg takedown to regain control. After some ground and pound Andrade got to his feet but Lineker got the mat return. However, Andrade got back up again and broke free from the clinch. Lineker landed the first of his patented big hooks but Andrade ate it with no trouble and landed another knee. The open stance match-up opened up the roundhouse high kick for Andrade, which he used to great effect. After the first round ended, Andrade had clearly established a decent lead.

Andrade picked up where he left off in round two, with the jab popping Lineker in the head over and over. Lineker responded with a big hook to the body, but the jab and range management of Andrade made it difficult for him. Still, he did catch Andrade against the fence with a hook upstairs and took him down. Andrade struggled back to the feet but ate a lot of ground and pound in the process and seemed wobbly back on the feet after the blows he ate. Still, he was back in his preferred realm. Lineker began to have success timing the jab of Andrade and countering with the lead hook. Now Andrade’s face was marked up as well, but a lump had swelled up under Lineker’s right eye and it was unclear if he was even able to see out of that eye as the round ended.

Early in round three Lineker shot a takedown against the cage but Andrade defended well. Lineker aborted his attempt and turned to a leg lock, scrambling back to his feet when that, too, was defended. Lineker landed back-to-back right straights to the skull of his foe afterwards but Andrade responded with another 1-2, which had been landing all night for him. Lineker landed a vicious combo of hooks to the body halfway through the round but Andrade pressed him back against the fence after that. A knee to the body hurt Lineker badly and the end seemed close but when Andrade swarmed for the finish, his next knee landed right to the groin of Lineker, forcing the referee to call a timeout as Lineker rolled around on the mat. Lineker took out his cup and showed it to his coach, revealing it to be broken, which could be a big problem if a replacement could not be found. Now, Lineker began to dry heave on the mat from the pain, making the chances of the fight continuing start to look slim.

Broken cup, and later a vomit bucket. Unfortunate end tonight. #ONEonPrimeVideo3https://t.co/XIEic4Aw0q

— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) October 22, 2022

Lineker finally got back to his feet gingerly and the crowd cheered, but the time was up for him to recover and the fight was declared a no contest. It was a disappointing end after such an exhilarating start to the fight over two and a half rounds, but the fighters will surely get a chance to run it back with the title on the line in the future. As for Lineker, between the broken cup low blow and a possible broken orbital, he could be on the shelf for a bit.

Official Result: John Lineker and Fabricio Andrade ends No Contest, Round 3, 2:43

The post ONE on Prime Video 3: John Lineker’s Night Ends Painfully, And Early, Due to Fabricio Andrade Low Blow appeared first on Cageside Press.

Oh, it had Lineker vs. Andrade. But with Lineker missing weight on Thursday, the Brazilian was stripped of his title. That left only Andrade eligible to win gold, leaving the title vacant should Lineker himself pull off the victory.

The latest incident in a string of champs missing weight over the past 12 months was bad news for “Hands of Stone,” who had finally captured gold in a major promotion earlier this year when he knocked out longtime ONE star Bibiano Fernandes.

Lightweight Muay Thai and Submission Grappling championships were also up for grabs at ONE on Prime Video 3. Full results from the card, which gets underway at 8PM ET on Friday, October 21, 2022 on Amazon Prime Video, can be found below.

ONE On Prime Video 3: Lineker vs. Andrade Results

Main Card

John Lineker vs. Fabricio Andrade ends in a No Contest (accidental low blow, Round 3) – for the vacant ONE bantamweight world championship, only Andrade eligible to win title
Regian Eersel (c) def. Sinsamut Klinmee by split decision – for the ONE lightweight Muay Thai world championship
Kade Ruotolo def. Uali Kurzhev by submission (heel hook), 4:26 – for the vacant ONE lightweight submission grappling world championship
Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong def. Mohammed Boutasaa by unanimous decision – Kickboxing
Shamil Gasanov def. Kim Jae Woong by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:09

Lead Card

Jeremy Miado def. Danial Williams by TKO, Round 3, 0:31
Taiki Naito def. Amir Naseri by unanimous decision – Muay Thai
Mehdi Zatout def. Asa Ten Pow by TKO (retirement), Round 1, 3;00  – Muay Thai
Noelle Grandjean def. Lea Bivens by TKO, Round 1, 4:01

Post Card

Yoon Chang Min def. Keanu Subba by unanimous decision
Agilan Thani def. Ilja Stojanov by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 1:48

The post ONE On Prime Video 3: Lineker vs. Andrade Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Lineker (35-9) captured ONE’s bantamweight title when he knocked out Bibiano Fernandes earlier this year. At ONE on Prime Video 3 on Friday, he was expected to make his first title defense — but missed weight on his initial attempt Thursday, coming in 0.5lbs over the championship limit. Lineker did weigh in a second time, but at that point, had actually gained weight back and was 0.75lbs over.

The South China Morning Post was first to report the news, with ONE Championship officials subsequently confirming the development with Cageside Press. ONE’s weight classes are unique in MMA, as they do not allow fighters to dehydrate/re-hydrate to the same extent as other promotions. Fighters must pass a hydration test, which Lineker did, and the bantamweight limit for ONE is actually 145lbs as a result of the curtailment on weight cutting.

In other words, Lineker initially weighed in at 145.5lbs, then 145.75lbs on his second attempt.

According to a report by MMA Fighting, Lineker’s camp has cited an inaccurate hotel room scale as the reason behind the Brazilian missing the mark.

“When a fighter doesn’t make weight at ONE, he goes back to square zero because he has to make weight and pass the hydration test,” Lineker’s manager Alex Davis told the website. “That mistake happened because his scale was off in his room, lighter than the official one. When that happens, you have a second attempt to make weight but you have to pass the hydration test again. He couldn’t do it.”

Lineker’s miss at the scales is the latest in a string of high-profile incidents that have seen champions stripped of their title. In May, as is now well-known, Lineker’s countryman Charles Oliveira missed weight for a lightweight title fight against Justin Gaethje under the UFC banner. A tampered-with scale backstage was fingered as the culprit, but Oliveira was stripped of his belt regardless, and now looks to reclaim it this Saturday at UFC 280.

Last December, KSW champ Daniel Torres missed championship weight ahead of KSW 65, and had his featherweight title stripped as a result.

The post John Lineker Misses Weight for ONE on Prime Video 3, Stripped of Title appeared first on Cageside Press.