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Mikey Musumeci

American practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mikey Musumeci
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Michael Musumeci Jr. (born July 7, 1996) is an American submission grappler and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt[d] competitor currently signed to UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (UFC BJJ), where he is the inaugural and current UFC BJJ Bantamweight Champion. A four-time World Champion and Pan American Champion in colored belts, Musumeci is a five-time IBJJF black belt World Champion (four times in Gi and once in No-Gi), and the first American to win more than one IBJJF World title at black belt.[11] He formerly competed in ONE Championship where he was the inaugural Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion.

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Early life

Michael Musumeci Jr. was born in Marlboro, New Jersey on July 7, 1996. Musumeci is of Italian ancestry.[12][e] He began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) at age 4 along with his sister Tammi at Fatjo's Martial Arts Academy under coach Fernando "Cabeça". When he was 10 his family moved to Florida. While training at various academies, he met brothers Rafael and Guilherme Mendes of Art of Jiu Jitsu (AOJ)[f] during a seminar, starting a long relationship with the brothers and their academy.[1] Starting at juvenile blue belt, Musumeci won IBJJF world championships at every belt level.[2] In 2014 Guilherme Mendes awarded him his brown belt right after his 2014 purple belt world title while on the podium. In 2015 aged 18, Musumeci received his black belt from Gilbert Burns.[11]

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Black belt career

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The following year Musumeci won the 2016 Pan American Championship at roosterweight followed by the World No-Gi Championship. In 2016 he switched teams joining Caio Terra's association.[16] In 2017 Musumeci won the UAEJJF World Pro at black belt in the 62 kg weight class.[1] In 2017 he won the World Championship in the Lightfeather division. In 2018 Musumeci became World Champion for the second time.[11] Fighting in a lower weight division he won the World Championship two more times in 2019 and 2021.

2021

Musumeci made his Who's Number One debut on March 26, 2021, where he submitted Marcelo Cohen with an armbar from the triangle choke position.[17] On May 28, 2021 Musumeci returned to WNO, submitting Lucas Pinheiro with a heelhook.[18] Musumeci's third WNO match was against Edwin 'Junny' Ocasio on June 18, 2021, and Musumeci won the bout by unanimous decision.[19] Musumeci was then invited to compete in the inaugural WNO Championships event, taking part in the tournament for the promotion's Lightweight title.[20] Musumeci faced Gabriel Sousa in the opening round and was submitted by north-south choke, removing him from the competition.[21] Musumeci then competed for the inaugural WNO Bantamweight title on October 20, 2021. He submitted Richard Alarcon with a leglock that has since been dubbed 'The Mikey Lock', and won the belt.[22]

Musumeci was scheduled to make his ADCC debut at the 2022 ADCC World Championship after receiving an invite to the event.[23] During the build-up, the promotion staged their first 'Road to ADCC' event on July 17, 2021[24] where Musumeci faced fellow ADCC 2022 competitor Geo Martinez, beating him 6-0 on points.[25] After the conclusion of the match, both Martinez and his coach Eddie Bravo confronted Musumeci as they exchanged heated words on the mat.[26] He was forced to withdraw from ADCC 2022 as a result of injury,[27] but has since called for a rematch with Martinez regardless.[28] The pair were originally scheduled for a rematch on March 25, 2022,[29] but the match was postponed and did not come to fruition.

At the end of 2021, Musumeci and his sister Tammi both changed gyms and joined Pedigo Submission Fighting to train under Heath Pedigo.[30]

2022

Musumeci defended the WNO Bantamweight title against Estevan Martinez on January 21, 2022, winning by unanimous decision.[31] Soon after, he signed with ONE Championship.[32] After signing with ONE Championship, Musumeci switched gyms once again and moved to Singapore to train at Evolve MMA.[33]

After signing with ONE Championship,[34] Musumeci faced Masakazu Imanari in a grappling bout at ONE 156 on April 22, 2022. He submitted Imanari by the way of rear-naked choke,[35] and won the $50,000 'Performance of the Night' bonus as a result.[36]

Musumeci faced Cleber Sousa for the inaugural ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Championship on October 1, 2022, at ONE on Prime Video 2.[37] Musumeci won the match and the belt via unanimous decision at the end of the 10 minutes.[38]

2023

Musumeci was scheduled to make his first title defense against Sayan Khertek on January 14, 2023, at ONE on Prime Video 6.[39] However, Khertek forced to withdraw due to injury and was replaced by Gantumur Bayanduuren.[40] Musumeci defeated Bayanduuren by unanimous decision and retained his title.[41] It came to light afterward that Bayanduuren suffered several severe injuries to his leg as a result of submission attempts by Musumeci during the match.[42]

Musumeci was scheduled to make his second title defense against Osamah Almarwai at ONE Fight Night 10 on May 5, 2023.[43] He won the match by rear-naked choke at 8:03 and retained the flyweight title.[44]

Musumeci defended his flyweight submission grappling title against Jarred Brooks at ONE Fight Night 13 on August 5, 2023.[45] He won the match with an armbar and retained his title.[46]

Musumeci competed against Shinya Aoki in an openweight grappling match at ONE Fight Night 15 on October 6, 2023.[47] He won the match by submission, with an Aoki lock.[48]

2024

In February, 2024, Musumeci announced that he was leaving Pedigo Submission Fighting and would be joining Cobrinha BJJ to train under Rubens Charles Maciel.[49]

Musumeci competed against Gabriel Sousa in a bantamweight match at ONE 167 on June 7, 2024.[50] He won the match by submission.[51]

Musumeci was booked to compete in a superfight at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational on August 16-17.[52] However, the match fell through and was cancelled.[53]

Musumeci was set to challenge Kade Ruotolo for his ONE lightweight submission grappling title on September 6, 2024, at ONE 168: Denver.[54] However, on September 1, it was announced that Ruotolo had withdrawn from the bout due to injury.[55]

On November 2, 2024, Musumeci announced that he was no longer going to compete in ONE Championship.[56] Musumeci then signed an exclusive contract with UFC Fight Pass[57] and made his debut in the main event of UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9 on December 5, 2024 against Felipe Machado.[58] He won the match by decision.[59]

2025

Musumeci faced Rerisson Gabriel for the inaugural UFC BJJ Bantamweight World Championship in the main event of UFC BJJ 1 at the UFC Apex on June 25, 2025. He won the match via a heel hook submission at the 1:12 mark of the third round.[60]

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Personal life

Musumeci is of Italian descent. He is a Star Wars fan and started using the nickname 'Darth Rigatoni' to reference both that and his love of pasta after a fan came up with the idea.[61]

His sister, Tammi Musumeci, is also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor.[62]

On November 5, 2023, Musumeci announced a partnership deal with Meta.[63]

Championships and accomplishments

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Main achievements (black belt)

Source:[11]

2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015

Main achievements (colored belts)

Source:[11]

2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
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Career record

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Instructor lineage

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Lineage 1

Carlos Gracie → Hélio Gracie → Carlson Gracie → André Pederneiras → Rafael Fofitio → Gilbert Burns → Michael Musumeci[81]

Lineage 2

Carlos Gracie → Hélio Gracie → Carlson Gracie → André Pederneiras → João Roque → Jonatas Gurgel → Michael Musumeci[81]

See also

Notes

  1. From 2016 to 2020[5]
  2. until 2016[6]
  3. Competing as a black belt.[1]
  4. under Gilbert Burns and Jonatas Gurgel[1]
  5. Musumeci mentioned his Italian ancestry on the Joe Rogan Podcast JRE MMA Show No. 127.[13][14]
  6. at the time affiliated with ATOS[15]

References

External links

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