“He’s got a cool lifestyle” – Tye Ruotolo says ONE Fight Night 21 challenger Izaak Michell also has a cool vibe

As the holder of the ONE welterweight submission grappling world championship title, Tye Ruotolo embodies the phrase “no chill”when it comes to taking care of business inside the Circle.

Despite his young age, the 21-year-old is known for being one of the most relaxed athletes in the world of combat sports, especially when it comes to grappling.

Tye and his twin brother, Kade Ruotolo, both ONE world champions, fully embrace the ‘Pura Vida’ lifestyle. This lifestyle involves activities such as surfing, skating, and immersing oneself in nature, which includes spending time at the beach when not training.

Coincidentally, the man he is set to face at ONE Fight Night 21 this Friday shares the same carefree lifestyle. Izaak Michell and Tye Ruotolo not only share a high-wire grappling style, but also have many other similarities.

In a recent interview with the South China Morning Post, Ruotolo openly recognized this fact.

“Izaak, he’s got a cool lifestyle. I’ve seen in Australia, with him surfing and all that. We’ll see after [if we connect] but yeah he’s doing good stuff. I’m excited to have a match with him.”

Tye Ruotolo’s first defense of his 26 pounds of gold will be against the enigmatic Michell, making for an ideal first challenger.

It appears that Ruotolo is bound to face the Australian grappler frequently in the upcoming months, as they are both slated to compete in the same bracket at the ADCC World Championships 2024 later this year.

Kade and Tye Ruotolo’s Potential Friendship with Izaak Michell Outside of Competition

Kade Ruotolo, like Tye, also joined in the SCMP MMA interview and discussed their shared interests, similar to Michell’s.

The youngest ADCC champion mentioned that they would probably spend time with Michell if the situation was different.

“It seems like if he wasn’t our competitor, he’ll probably be our friend but we won’t root for that now,”he said.

Catch the Ruotolos in action at ONE Fight Night 21, airing live on US Primetime for free on April 5 from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.

View the complete interview: