ONE 168 Loses Title Fight as Kade Ruotolo Pulls Out Due to Injury
kade ruotolo vs. mikey musumeci fight at ONE 168 canceled due to injury; fans left waiting for the grappling showdown
Sep 4, 2024
Julian Terenzio
The highly anticipated grappling match between Kade Ruotolo and Mikey Musumeci has been called off (I know, I know. I'm just as upset as you are...) . We’ve all been excited for this one, but now ONE 168 will have to figure out if Mikey gets a new opponent. Set for September 6th in Denver, the fight was going to feature two of the best grapplers in the world. A few days ago, Kade shared the unfortunate news of his injury on Instagram:
"I’m unfortunately dealing with injuries. I know a lot of people, including myself and Mikey, were looking forward to the ONE match in Denver, but unfortunately, it’s off," Ruotolo posted on his Instagram. This announcement comes just weeks after he won the -80kg title at the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), where he took home a $1 million prize."
Kade Ruotolo Out of ONE 168: What Happened?
The cancellation of the Ruotolo vs. Musumeci bout is a big letdown for fans, as this was one of the most exciting matches on the ONE 168 card. Ruotolo’s aggressive grappling style and Musumeci’s technical brilliance promised an action-packed fight.
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At just 21 years old, Kade has already achieved more than most athletes do in a lifetime, but his recent $1 million victory at the inaugural CJI is a new highlight in his remarkable career. His decision to compete in the CJI so close to ONE 168 has also raised some questions. Back-to-back high-level competitions can really wear down an athlete, and this injury adds to the growing list of competitors from CJI dealing with similar setbacks, including names like Roberto Jimenez and Magid Hage.
As one of the sport’s rising stars, Ruotolo pulling out is a bummer, but hey, injuries happen. His fans will definitely be rooting for a quick recovery so we can all see him back on the mats doing what he does best, ASAP!
ONE Championship President Reacts
ONE Championship President Chatri Sityodtong expressed his disappointment, posting, “Rest up and heal up, Kade! I am super bummed for you and Mikey. This match would’ve been huge for jiu-jitsu.”
There’s no word yet on whether Mikey will get a replacement opponent or if the fight will be rescheduled for a later date. Fans, myself included are tossing and turning at night thinking about what ONE Championship plans to do with one of its most anticipated events now up in the air.
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What's Next for ONE 168?
The Ruotolo vs. Musumeci match was one of the key attractions for ONE 168, and its cancellation is a setback for the event. Ticket sales for the Denver card were already dragging, and losing such a big fight definitely doesn’t help. ONE Championship hasn’t said what’s next for Mikey Musumeci or if they’ll reschedule the fight, but fans are still hoping this showdown happens soon. Musumeci was just as pumped for this match as the fans, but now we all have to play the waiting game.
Mikey is a legend, and hopefully we can see these fight soon.
As for Kade, he’s focused on healing up. On Instagram, he shared that he’s ready to get back to training with his brother Tye, who’s also battling injuries: "I’m going to be recovering alongside my brother and hope to get back to the mats asap."
In the meantime, keep an eye on what ONE Championship plans to do for the upcoming Denver event. Whether Musumeci gets a new opponent or the match is rebooked, the excitement for grappling at the highest level isn’t going away anytime soon.
