“I haven’t signed anything so I can’t give an exact date but 100 per cent by the end of the year. I’m not going to let this year end without my debut,” Ruotolo told the Post backstage at Lumpinee Stadium after his win.

“Maybe September, something like that, we’ll see what cards ONE has. I’m super antsy. I want it to be next month. But my family, friends, and coaches, they’re all telling me do it smart, wait and make sure there’s no field lacking so I’m polished up and everything and just when I do step on those mats I go straight to the belt.”

“My whole life I’ve been in love with MMA,” he added. “Always watched it growing up, trained it here and there especially recently. The past year I’ve been really wanting to make that MMA debut, but there’s always a jiu jitsu priority, something that we have to train for and kind of focus for.

“There’s probably going to be another one next month and the one after. I just finally made the decision, even if I have something juicy coming up I need to stick to training MMA, because if I don’t I’m never going to have that debut.”

Ruotolo was cornered in Bangkok by his twin brother Tye, who also grapples in ONE and is keen to move into MMA soon.

On Monday they travelled to Superbon’s personal gym in the city to get some striking training in with ONE’s former featherweight kickboxing champ.

“That was amazing to watch and I’m a huge fan. I’m super excited. I’m going to soak up as much Muay Thai, as much striking as I can and hopefully we can get on the card next month then and I can do the same.”

Ruotolo has already been working on the switch back home, however, in San Diego, California – as well as a little further afield.

“Atos [Jiu-Jitsu HQ] recently started adding an MMA class three times a week, and there’s a legend behind it, Gabriel Miglioli,” Kade said. “He’s also super-sick and he’s been showing me some cool things. We look forward to working more with him.

“I’ve also been going south of the border to TJ [Tijuana, Mexico] working at Entram a bit, mixing it up with those guys.

“Before that I was training a bit with Cub Swanson and those guys down in Costa Mesa, so I’m getting a bit from different places and trying to see what I fit in the most with and who’s gonna really help bring me to that debut confidently.

“So I’m not weighing up my options but just seeing what makes the most sense for me. Soon I’ll have a solid camp, a solid team, and make that debut.”

ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong certainly feels Kade and Tye Ruotolo both have the chops to go far in MMA.

“The thing about the Ruotolo brothers, they’re both very talented, and they’re pure athletes – just look at their balance, speed, cardio,” he told the Post in Bangkok.

“They could’ve chosen any sport and they would’ve been the best in the world. They happen to love jiu jitsu and fighting. I do think they’re both going to make remarkable transitions to MMA.

“That’s what is very intriguing in ONE, you can be a multiple sport champ and still do their true love, grappling. I know they’ve been training striking for several years and their wrestling is on point already.

“So I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kade rise through the roster. Apparently he has very heavy hands – I’ve not seen it – and he has the speed.”

Kade Ruotolo was keen to point out though that he and his brother are not great at every sport they try their hand at.

“I’ll tell you what, we would have to be the worst at ball sports in the entire world, my manager will be right there to second that,” he said, laughing. “Basketball – air balls all day. Soccer, I can’t even keep it under me.

“I don’t know what it is but anything with the ball we’re just the worst at. We’ve been doing the same couple things our entire lives since we were three years old – jiu jitsu, surfing and skating.

“So I think people have seen us surfing a bit and they’re like ‘they could do it all’ – not really, just those three.”