Tye Ruotolo Defending ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling Championship

Ruotolo will put the title on the line against Izaak Michell

Tye Ruotolo will defend the ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling Championship next month at ONE Fight Night 21 against Izaak Michell, Sports Illustrated has learned.

The title defense will be an integral part of the card, which takes places on Friday, April 5 in Bangkok at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium and will stream live on Prime Video in the United States and Canada.

Courtesy ONE Championship

Initially slated to take place this month, the bout was moved off the Qatar card in place of bouts featuring regional talent. It instantly becomes a featured attention of the April card, and it will mark Michell’s debut with ONE Championship. An elite submission grappler, Michell is a former IBJJF World Champion.

Courtesy ONE Cham

A 21-year-old fighting prodigy, Ruotolo became the inaugural title holder when he defeated Magomed Abdulkadirov in November at ONE Fight Night 16. This will be his first defense of the title, and the versatile, dangerous Michell instantly becomes the toughest challenge to date.