Welterweight submission wrestling world champion Tye Ruotolo was pushed to the limit in his first fight of 2026, but when the dust settled, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu prodigy left the squared circle on Friday, March 13, with the gold medal he had always dreamed of.
The American successfully defended his title for the third time, defeating IBJJF No-Gi World Champion Pawel Jaworski at Prime Video’s ONE Fight Night 41 event, which aired live in prime time in the United States from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Arena.
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Rutolo wasted no time, immediately bouncing off the ropes and exploding forward with a spearing double leg drop to open the match.
As expected from the California native, Jaworski immediately looked for a leg lock, repeatedly targeting the defending champion’s lower body.
Both men engaged in a series of scrambles and leg tangles, but Rutolo kept his composure and escaped danger while working his way into a semi-defensive position.
Starting from the top position, the American controlled the tempo by pinning Jaworski’s hands to the mat to halt the challenger’s advance.
The Polish wrestler eventually got a hold of Rutolo’s leg, using his knee to make the first catch in the final 90 seconds of the fight, but the hold only lasted a moment as the reigning king broke free.
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The American found himself under pressure with less than 30 seconds left, but climbed up top and responded with a catch of his own to seal a mounted choke attempt.
The welterweight ruler then executed a triangle choke as Jaworski rolled over and tried to crawl out. However, time passed before he could fully complete the submission.
Both athletes had one catch each after 10 minutes of play, but Rutolo’s continued aggression throughout the match convinced all three judges to award him the decision.
The win marked the Californian’s third successful defense of the ONE Welterweight Submissions World Championship and improved his wrestling record to 37-12.
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