Adrian Lee Welcomes Challenge From Tye Ruotolo: “I Don’t Think I’m A Good Matchup For Him”

Lightweight MMA phenom Adrian Lee has dispatched every challenger that’s come his way thus far in his short time as a professional. He has steamrolled all opponents inside the first round, and that’s caught the attention of others looking to move into the division.

Could Tye Ruotolo Be Next for Adrian Lee?

One of those is reigning ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo. The American star looks to soon follow in the footsteps of his twin brother and lightweight submission grappling king Kade.  When he was asked about potential opponents, Adrian Lee was one of the first names out of his mouth.

Admittedly, the callout caught the 19-year-old off guard, but he thinks Ruotolo may be putting the cart before the horse by looking to step into the ring with him. The all-encompassing sport demands a much wider skill set than pure grappling, and Adrian Lee believes his talents will be too much for Ruotolo to handle this early on. However, he’s full of respect for the twin brothers and their accomplishments.

“Honestly, I was surprised when Tye Ruotolo called me out for his MMA debut. Personally, I don’t think I’m a good matchup for him. I don’t think I’d be what a good feeder for him is, if that’s what he’s looking for. But I’m excited for that match,” Adrian Lee said.

“I think that’d be a great fight. I think he’s a great athlete. Him and his brother, Kade, they’re phenomenal wrestlers and grapplers, and that really helps tie into their MMA game because of how dynamic they are. Their type of grappling style is more suited for MMA.”

Double the Rivalries Between Adrian Lee and Ruotolos Looming?

In the MMA sphere, Adrian Lee could potentially share a division with both Tye and Kade Ruotolo. That creates two dynamic matchups, and two fierce rivalries could be brewing up. With that said, though, Lee won’t back down from their challenges.

While the twin brothers have competed in combat sports their entire lives, Lee also comes from a family with a rich history in MMA. He’s the younger brother of two-weight ONE World Champion Christian Lee and former ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Angela Lee.

Adrian Lee Ready for Ruotolo Brothers No Matter the Discipline

So much so that he believes he can take on the Ruotolo brothers, not only in MMA, but in their hub of submission grappling. Should the opportunity arise, Adrian Lee will take it. But for now he’s keeping his focus set on becoming a ONE World Champion. 

“I have the grappling skills. I believe that I could submit Kade or Tye Ruotolo in a grappling match. Just adding that to my striking and wrestling skills, I really believe that I’d beat them everywhere,” he said.

“My main focus is to be the best possible mixed martial artist in the world. That means getting to the title in MMA and winning multiple titles. I want to be a peak martial artist – not just specialize in one area or the other.”