Kade Ruotolo Dominates Nicolas Vigna with a Slick Arm-Triangle Finish at ONE 171

Jiu-jitsu sensation Kade Ruotolo continues to make waves in MMA, securing his third consecutive victory in dominant fashion at ONE 171 in Qatar. The grappling phenom wasted no time dismantling Nicolas Vigna in their 175-pound catchweight bout, proving once again that his transition to mixed martial arts is spectacular.

Vigna, an undefeated fighter with a 100% finishing rate, entered the bout with high expectations. However, Ruotolo quickly showed why he's considered one of the most dangerous grapplers in combat sports. Within moments of the opening bell, he fired off a powerful head kick before immediately dragging the fight to the mat with a leg lock attempt.

Although Vigna managed to survive the initial submission threat, Ruotolo seamlessly transitioned to his opponent’s back, threatening a rear-naked choke. From there, he advanced to mount and unleashed brutal elbows, forcing Vigna into a compromised position. Sensing the opportunity, Ruotolo locked in a tight arm-triangle choke, securing yet another impressive first-round finish.

Following his dominant performance, Ruotolo was awarded a $50,000 performance bonus, which made it clear that MMA is where his heart lies.

“I have to be honest, guys,” Ruotolo said post-fight. “I want to defend my grappling title here, I got the belt and I need to defend it, but if I’m being 100% honest, MMA is in my heart 100 percent. And if it’s what I want, it’s another MMA fight. I want to get back in there as soon as possible and keep it in the first round again.”

Already a champion in grappling with titles in ONE, ADCC, CJI, and WNO, Ruotolo’s rapid evolution in MMA suggests he could soon be a serious contender in the sport. With his lethal submission skills and growing confidence in striking, the sky's the limit for this rising star.