In 2019, Ruotolo who was a 16-year-old blue belt, participated in the 2019 ADCC World Championship in the Lightweight division making him the youngest competitor in history at the time. Both Tye and his brother Kade were promoted to brown belts in BJJ by
André Galvão in October 2020.
Black belt career In September 2021, Ruotolo became WNO 185 lb champion by defeating Johnny Tama,
Dante Leon and
Micael Galvão. Ruotolo submitted Kade by
armbar. This meant that Ruotolo became the youngest IBJJF black belt world champion of all time. In the
2022 ADCC World Championship, Ruotolo competed in the Absolute division against heavier opponents where he defeated Pedro Marinho and
Felipe Pena before losing to
Nicholas Meregali in a judge decision. Ruotolo obtained a bronze medal after
Cyborg Abreu medically forfeited the bronze medal match. Ruotolo competed in the
IBJJF World Championship 2023 on June 3 and 4, 2023 and won a bronze medal in the middleweight division. Ruotolo was originally scheduled to compete in the
2024 ADCC World Championship but he and his brother Kade withdrew in order to enter the under 80 kg division at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational on August 16–17. Tye Ruotolo submitted
Jason Nolf in the opening round and lost in the quarter-final to Levi Jones-Leary by referee decision.
ONE Championship On May 20, 2022, Ruotolo faced
Garry Tonon at
ONE 157 for his submission grappling debut in the promotion. On December 3, 2022, Ruotolo faced former
ONE Featherweight World Champion,
Marat Gafurov in a submission grappling catchweight bout of 180 lbs at
ONE on Prime Video 5. Ruotolo submitted Gafurov by triangle armbar. Ruotolo was scheduled to face
Reinier de Ridder on May 5, 2023, at
ONE Fight Night 10. He won the match by unanimous decision. In his post-fight interview, Ruotolo challenged
Nicholas Meregali to be his next opponent in ONE Championship. Ruotolo competed against Dagi Arslanaliev at
ONE Fight Night 13 on August 5, 2023. He won the match by rear-naked choke submission and was awarded a
Performance of the Night bonus award. Ruotolo competed against
Magomed Abdulkadirov for the inaugural ONE Championship welterweight submission grappling title at
ONE Fight Night 16 on November 3, 2023. He won the match by decision, winning the title and earning a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. Ruotolo was to make his first welterweight title-defense against Izaak Michell at
ONE 166 on March 1, 2024. However, the bout was moved back to
ONE Fight Night 21 on April 5, 2024, for unknown reasons. Ruotolo won the match by submission with an arm-in rear-naked choke. Ruotolo competed in a catchweight match against Jozef Chen at
ONE Fight Night 23 on July 6, 2024. He won the match by decision. Ruotolo defended his
ONE Championship welterweight title against
Dante Leon at ONE Fight Night 31 on May 2, 2025. He won the match via unanimous decision. ==Mixed martial arts career==