Isojima carries significant momentum into this contest. His promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 36 saw him stop Nicolas Vigna via second-round ground-and-pound, earning him a $50,000 performance bonus and introducing him to the global audience with an emphatic finish.
The 28-year-old Japanese fighter has compiled a perfect 6-0 record since turning professional in 2023. His finishing ability across all areas has made him one of Japan’s most closely watched fighters, with dangerous skills both standing and on the ground.
The home crowd advantage in Tokyo adds another element to Isojima’s opportunity. A victory would extend his undefeated streak while establishing his credentials against internationally recognized competition.
Ruotolo brings world-class grappling credentials to his expanding MMA career. The 22-year-old Californian captured the ONE welterweight submission grappling world title at ONE Fight Night 16 in November 2023, defeating Magomed Abdulkadirov before successfully defending the championship twice against Izaak Michell and Dante Leon.
His MMA debut at ONE Fight Night 35 in September validated his ability to compete across multiple disciplines. Ruotolo defeated Adrian Lee via rear-naked choke after showing composure in striking exchanges before securing his preferred grappling position. That performance earned him a $50,000 bonus and demonstrated how effectively his world-class jiu-jitsu translates to mixed martial arts.
The tactical matchup features Isojima’s well-rounded attack against Ruotolo’s elite submission game. Both fighters have shown finishing ability throughout their careers, suggesting the contest may not reach the judges’ scorecards.
A victory for Ruotolo would improve his MMA record to 2-0 and position him for increasingly difficult tests in the lightweight division. He has expressed interest in eventually facing ONE lightweight MMA world champion Christian Lee, who defends his title against Alibeg Rasulov on the same card.
