Year Ender 2024: A Look Back At Kade Ruotolo’s 64-Second Submission Of Ahmed Mujtaba

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Kade Ruotolo needs no introduction in the combat sports world, having achieved greatness at all levels. But in 2024, the American sensation ventured into uncharted waters and succeeded with flying colors.

The ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion is known for his ultra-aggressive, submission-hunting style, and he applied those skills in MMA, scoring two splendid submission victories against worthy opponents this year.

His last performance against the durable Pakistani MMA fighter Ahmed Mujtaba was one to remember. For his second MMA match, Ruotolo faced Mujtaba at ONE 169 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, in November 2024.

It was considered a tough challenge for the young American, as "Wolverine" was quite comfortable in both the stand-up and ground game. The fighters started the contest with caution, and Ruotolo threw some kicks to test his opponent.

He could have gone for takedowns, but he wanted to work on his stand-up game. A few seconds later, Ruotolo tagged his opponent with an overhand right, sending him to the canvas.

Mujtaba grabbed his leg to save himself, but Ruotolo was relentless, landing a flurry of punches. The top pound-for-pound Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete then sunk in a D'Arce choke, forcing Mujtaba to tap out in just 64 seconds.

Ruotolo's performance proved that his MMA game has improved leaps and bounds and will continue to grow in future. He has become a force to be reckoned with in the star-studded lightweight division.

In fact, 2024 was exceptional for the American, who defended his title and won all four of his fights. He successfully transitioned to the all-encompassing sport of MMA, proving he's worthy of standing toe-to-toe with other fighters.

Ruotolo has been on a tear ever since joining ONE, winning all of his eight bouts, which include four submission victories. He will aim to continue his surge in 2025 and look to achieve two-sport glory.