Christian Lee Vows To Expose Ruotolo's MMA Inexperience

Christian Lee plans to exploit Tye Ruotolo's limited cage experience when he defends his One Championship lightweight title Friday night in Bangkok.

The reigning champion told reporters that Ruotolo has never been through a five-round war, a gap Lee expects to prove decisive at Friday Fights 177 on Nov. 6. While Lee respects the challenger's submission grappling background, he said a 2-0 mixed martial arts record leaves Ruotolo unprepared for championship rounds. "MMA is different," Lee said, per Sherdog, dismissing comparisons to pure grappling experience.

Champion Sees Finish In Championship Rounds

Lee stopped Alibeg Rasulov in the second round at One 173 last November and expects a similar result against Ruotolo. The two-division titleholder said the challenger lacks the durability to survive a full championship bout. Ruotolo choked out Lee's younger brother Adrian last September at One Fight Night 35, but the champion said that result only adds motivation.

Lee predicted he would wear Ruotolo down and snap his resolve as the fight extends into the later rounds. The champion said he intends to reveal the challenger's inexperience once the pace and volume pile up over 25 minutes.

The lightweight title fight headlines One Championship's Friday Fights 177 card in Bangkok, Thailand, on Nov. 6.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Christian Lee vows to 'expose' Tye Ruotolo's MMA inexperience at One Championship