Tye Ruotolo Shocks Christian Lee With First-Round Submission to Win ONE Championship MMA World Title

BANGKOK, THAILAND — Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu superstar Tye Ruotolo has officially conquered the world of mixed martial arts, defeating longtime ONE Championship lightweight champion Christian Lee by first-round submission on Friday, November 6, at ONE Championship’s The Inner Circle 37 event inside the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 23-year-old American needed just 2 minutes and 8 seconds to secure a rear-naked choke victory, capturing the ONE Lightweight MMA World Championship in only his third professional MMA appearance.

Already the ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion, Ruotolo became the first athlete in ONE Championship history to capture world titles in both submission grappling and mixed martial arts.

Tye Ruotolo vs. Christian Lee: How the Fight Ended

Entering the championship contest, Christian Lee was considered one of ONE Championship’s most accomplished fighters, having previously captured world titles in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions.

Lee brought significantly more MMA experience into the cage, but Ruotolo quickly demonstrated that his developing striking game could complement his world-class submission skills.

Lee opened the contest aggressively, utilizing his jab and low kicks while attempting to pressure the younger challenger.

Ruotolo remained composed before connecting with a powerful punching combination that dropped the defending champion.

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist immediately followed Lee to the canvas, advancing through dominant positions before taking his opponent’s back during a scramble.

Once Ruotolo secured the rear-naked choke, Lee was unable to escape and eventually tapped out, ending his reign as ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion.

The impressive performance earned Ruotolo a $100,000 performance bonus from ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

Ruotolo Brothers Continue Their Dominance in ONE Championship

The victory represents another significant achievement for the famous Ruotolo brothers, who have emerged as two of the most recognizable athletes in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Tye’s twin brother, Kade Ruotolo, is also a ONE Championship submission grappling world champion and has successfully transitioned into professional mixed martial arts.

Both brothers developed their grappling credentials at an exceptionally young age, competing against elite international opposition before becoming major attractions in professional submission grappling.

Tye, a black belt under legendary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor Andre Galvao, captured the ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Championship in 2023.

His transition into MMA has been equally impressive, combining aggressive submission attacks with increasingly effective striking.

Christian Lee Suffers Major Setback After Brother’s Defeat

The championship matchup also carried a personal storyline involving the Lee family.

Ruotolo previously defeated Christian’s younger brother, Adrian Lee, by rear-naked choke during his professional MMA debut in September 2025.

Christian entered Friday’s contest hoping to avenge his brother’s defeat while successfully defending his lightweight championship.

Instead, Ruotolo became the first fighter to defeat both Lee brothers in professional MMA competition.

Despite losing his lightweight title, Christian Lee remains the ONE Welterweight MMA World Champion and one of the promotion’s most accomplished athletes.

The loss marks a significant setback for the former two-division champion, whose professional record now stands at 18-5.

What’s Next for Tye Ruotolo After Winning the ONE Lightweight Championship?

With a perfect 3-0 professional MMA record and a world championship already secured, Ruotolo finds himself in an unusual position.

Most fighters spend years building experience before receiving a championship opportunity. Ruotolo has reached the top of ONE Championship’s lightweight division after just three professional appearances.

His victory also reinforces the growing influence of elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors transitioning into mixed martial arts.

However, defending a championship against experienced contenders will present new challenges as opponents attempt to exploit areas of his developing MMA game.

For now, Ruotolo has established himself as one of the most intriguing young champions in international mixed martial arts.

At just 23 years old, the American submission specialist has already accomplished something no other ONE Championship athlete had achieved: becoming a world champion in both submission grappling and MMA.

Official Result: Tye Ruotolo def. Christian Lee via rear-naked choke submission, Round 1 (2:08), to win the ONE Lightweight MMA World Championship.