Two-fight MMA novice Ruotolo predicts early submission of champion Christian Lee in Bangkok title bout

Tye Ruotolo is backing himself to submit One Championship lightweight champion Christian Lee within the first two rounds of their title fight at One Friday Fights 177 on November 6 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand — despite holding only two professional MMA bouts to his name.

“I’ve only had two MMA fights, but I truly feel if you put me on the other side of the ring with anybody close to my size, the odds of me ending the fight are very high,” the 23-year-old American said in a pre-fight interview.

Ruotolo arrives at the contest with notable momentum. In September 2025, at One Fight Night 35, he submitted Lee’s younger brother Adrian with a rear-naked choke — a result that adds a personal dimension to the upcoming main event. Ruotolo acknowledged the dynamic openly, conceding that defeating a champion’s sibling could sharpen Christian Lee’s focus.

“If someone beat my brother, a big part of me would want to get that back, for sure,” Ruotolo said. “But I know that Christian’s also a professional with what he does. He’s been a champion for a long time under the promotion, and that hasn’t been by accident.”

While Ruotolo says he has prepared for a full five-round championship fight, he does not expect it to go the distance. “I don’t think it’s going to be five rounds. It can be. It can definitely be a five-round war, but I think the odds of it ending in a couple rounds are a lot higher, and most likely with a submission,” he added.

The matchup pits one of the sport’s most decorated submission grapplers against a long-reigning champion who has built his title reign on well-rounded, composed performances. Whether Ruotolo’s grappling pedigree translates quickly enough against an experienced MMA champion remains the central question heading into fight week.