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“This is the most important match of my career … Achieving that title, achieving that status would definitely be a life-changing thing,” Leon said in an interview.

The Muay Thai main event is an all-Thailand affair pitting Kongthoranee Sor Sommai against former One bantamweight champion Nong-O Hama.

Leon and Ruotolo have met twice before, with Leon winning a decision in 2020 and Ruotolo winning by submission in the 2021 rematch. 

“I think any insight from those matches should be kind of taken with a grain of salt,” said Leon. “There’s been quite a bit of time between the matches.”

Both men have distinguished grappling records. 

The 22-year-old Ruotolo took up BJJ at the age of three with twin brother Kade, who holds One’s lightweight (170-pound) submission grappling title. In 2019, 16-year-old Tye became the youngest athlete to make it to the semifinals of the prestigious ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) World Championship.

In 2022, he became the youngest-ever IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) world champion.

Leon is a two-time IBJJF no-gi world champion and was named Grappling Insider’s Male Grappler of the Year in 2023. Last year at the ADCC World Championships, he defeated ADCC world champions Mica Galvao and Giancarlo Bodoni en route to bronze in the absolute (open) division.

Leon won his One Championship debut on Dec. 6, making short work of Brazilian Bruno (Puccibull) Pucci on the undercard of One Fight Night 26: Lee vs. Rasulov. He earned a US$50,000 bonus for his performance.

He then defeated Norway’s Tommy Langaker via decision on Jan. 10, also in Bangkok. Leon has not competed since, focusing instead on preparing for Ruotolo.

Ruotolo, who is coming off a knee injury that has sidelined him since July, has won all seven previous One Championship bouts. His bouts last an average of two minutes and one second.

He claimed the 185-pound title in November 2023, winning a unanimous decision over Russia’s Magomed Abdulkadirov. Ruotolo has defended the championship twice, submitting Australian Izaak Michell in April 2024 and earning a decision over South Africa’s Jozef Chen in July.

Ruotolo calls Leon a threat “in every department.”

One Championship submission grappling bouts consist of a single 10-minute round with victory achieved by a submission, verbal tapout, stoppage initiated by either the referee (due to imminent danger) or an athlete’s cornerman stoppage.

The judges decide the outcome if it goes the distance.

In order to make prime time in North America, the card starts at 8 a.m. local time in Thailand with Leon expecting to compete around 11 a.m. He says that is not an issue given he normally trains around that time.

Born in Harrow in southwestern Ontario, Leon grew up playing hockey but switched to BJJ at 12 years old at the behest of his mother after learning he wanted to spend less time on the ice.

Leon turned down golf and piano lessons before his father suggested jiu-jitsu.

His BJJ training eventually took him to Toledo where he now has his two gyms.

“Each day that I get to do it, each day that I get to wake up and train, prepare for competition, teach my students is a blessing,” he said of jiu-jitsu. “I really do enjoy it.”

But he acknowledges it’s a sport that takes its toll.

“Jiu-jitsu is not something that’s great for your body health-wise,” he said. “Especially at a high level when you train a lot, I think it’s something that can really break your body down … My training has a lot of layers. There’s a lot to do with the jiu-jitsu side and the wrestling, and the preparation for my skill development.

“And then there’s also a lot of strength and conditioning and plyometric work that can kind of fill the gaps and strengthen me so that I can do jiu-jitsu more frequently and do it for a longer time.” 

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2025