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Mikey Musumeci

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(Redirected from Michael Musumeci) American practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Mikey Musumeci
Musumeci in 2022
BornMichael Musumeci Jr.
(1996-07-07) July 7, 1996 (age 28)
Marlboro, New Jersey, U.S.
NicknameDarth Rigatoni
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight134 lb; 9.6 st (61 kg)
DivisionFeather / Rooster
Reach67 in (170 cm)
StyleBrazilian Jiu Jitsu
Team
RankThird degree black belt in BJJ
Notable relativesTammi Musumeci (sister)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2021 California, USA − 57.5 kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 California, USA − 57.5 kg
Gold medal – first place 2018 California, USA − 64 kg
Gold medal – first place 2017 California, USA − 64 kg
World No-GI Championship
Gold medal – first place 2016 California, USA − 61.5 kg
Pan-American Championship
Gold medal – first place 2016 Florida, USA − 57.5 kg
European Championship
Gold medal – first place 2020 Lisbon, Portugal -64 kg
Gold medal – first place 2017 Lisbon, Portugal -64 kg
AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro
Gold medal – first place 2017 Abu Dhabi, UAE −62 kg
AJP Grand Slam World Tour
Gold medal – first place 2016 Los Angeles, USA −62 kg

Michael Musumeci Jr. (born July 7, 1996) is an American submission grappler and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt competitor. 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. He competed in ONE Championship where he was the flyweight submission grappling champion.

Early life

Michael Musumeci Jr. was born in Marlboro, New Jersey on July 7, 1996. Musumeci is of Italian ancestry. 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) during a seminar, starting a long relationship with the brothers and their academy. Starting at juvenile blue belt, Musumeci won IBJJF world championships at every belt level. 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.

Black belt career

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. In 2017 Musumeci won the UAEJJF World Pro at black belt in the 62 kg weight class. In 2017 he won the World Championship in the Lightfeather division. In 2018 Musumeci became World Champion for the second time. 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. On May 28, 2021 Musumeci returned to WNO, submitting Lucas Pinheiro with a heelhook. Musumeci's third WNO match was against Edwin 'Junny' Ocasio on June 18, 2021, and Musumeci won the bout by unanimous decision. Musumeci was then invited to compete in the inaugural WNO Championships event, taking part in the tournament for the promotion's Lightweight title. Musumeci faced Gabriel Sousa in the opening round and was submitted by north-south choke, removing him from the competition. 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.

Musumeci was scheduled to make his ADCC debut at the 2022 ADCC World Championship after receiving an invite to the event. During the build-up, the promotion staged their first 'Road to ADCC' event on July 17, 2021 where Musumeci faced fellow ADCC 2022 competitor Geo Martinez, beating him 6-0 on points. After the conclusion of the match, both Martinez and his coach Eddie Bravo confronted Musumeci as they exchanged heated words on the mat. He was forced to withdraw from ADCC 2022 as a result of injury, but has since called for a rematch with Martinez regardless. The pair were originally scheduled for a rematch on March 25, 2021, 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.

2022

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

After signing with ONE Championship, 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, and won the $50,000 'Performance of the Night' bonus as a result.

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

2023

Musumeci was scheduled to make his first title defense against Sayan Khertek on January 14, 2023, at ONE on Prime Video 6. However, Khertek forced to withdraw due to injury and was replaced by Gantumur Bayanduuren. Musumeci defeated Bayanduuren by unanimous decision and retained his title. 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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Accomplishments

Main Achievements (Black Belt)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts)

  • IBJJF World Champion (2015 brown, 2014 purple, 2013/2012 juvenile blue)
  • IBJJF Pan American Champion (2015 brown, 2014 purple, 2013/2012 juvenile blue)
  • IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2011 blue juvenile)
  • IBJJF Pan American NoGi Champion (2011 blue juvenile)

Career record

25 Matches, 23 Wins (12 Submissions), 2 Losses (1 Submission), 0 Draws
Result Rec. Opponent Method Event Date Location
Win 23-2 Brazil Joao Gabriel Sousa Submission (calf slicer) ONE 167 June 8, 2024 Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
Win 22-2 Japan Shinya Aoki Submission (inside heel hook) ONE Fight Night 15 October 7, 2023 Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
Win 21–2 United States Jarred Brooks Submission (triangle armbar) ONE Fight Night 13 August 5, 2023 Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
Win 20–2 Yemen Osamah Almarwai Submission (rear-naked choke) ONE Fight Night 10 May 5, 2023 United States Broomfield, Colorado
Win 19–2 Mongolia Bayanduuren Gantumur Decision (unanimous) ONE Fight Night 6 January 14, 2023 Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
Win 18–2 Brazil Cleber Souza Decision (unanimous) ONE on Prime Video 2 October 1, 2022 Singapore Kallang, Singapore
Win 17–2 Japan Masakazu Imanari Submission (rear naked choke) ONE 156 April 22, 2022 Singapore Kallang, Singapore
Win 16–2 United States Estevan Martinez Decision (unanimous) Who's #1: Craig Jones vs. Pedro Marinho January 21, 2022 United States Dallas, Texas
Win 15–2 Brazil Bruno Malfacine Decision (points) IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship: Finals December 12, 2021 United States Anaheim, California
Win 14–2 United States Richard Alarcon Submission (leg lock) Who's #1: The Return of Gordon Ryan October 20, 2021 United States Austin, Texas
Loss 13–2 Brazil Joao Gabriel Sousa Submission (north south choke) 2021 FloGrappling WNO Championship: Day 1 September 25, 2021 United States Austin, Texas
Win 13–1 United States Geovanny Martinez Decision (points) Road to ADCC July 18, 2021 United States Austin, Texas
Win 12–1 United States Edwin Ocasio Decision (unanimous) Who's #1: Craig vs. Ruotolo June 18, 2021 United States Austin, Texas
Win 11–1 Brazil Lucas Pinheiro Submission (inside heel hook) Who's #1: Gordon Ryan vs. Luiz Panza May 28, 2021 United States Austin, Texas
Win 10–1 United States Marcelo Cohen Submission (triangle armbar) Who's #1: Gordon Ryan vs. Vagner Rocha March 26, 2021 United States Austin, Texas
Loss 9–1 Brazil Mahamed Aly Decision (points) European Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championship 2020 January 25, 2020 Portugal Lisbon, Portugal
Win 9–0 Brazil Francisco Jonas Andrade Decision (split)
Win 8–0 Brazil Diego Oliveria Batista Submission (straight ankle lock)
Win 7–0 United States Suraj Budhram Submission (arm-in ezekiel choke)
Win 6–0 United States Joseph Lee Submission (omoplata) World Jiu Jitsu Festival: Day 1 October 5, 2019 United States Long Beach, California
Win 5–0 Brazil Rodnei Barbosa Submission (straight ankle lock) 2019 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship June 2, 2019 United States Long Beach, California
Win 4–0 Brazil Bruno Malfacine Decision (Points)
Win 3-0 Japan Koji Shibamoto Decision (Points)
Win 2–0 Brazil Ary Farias Decision 2018 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship June 3, 2018 United States Los Angeles, California
Win 1–0 Brazil João Miyao Decision 2017 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship June 4, 2017 United States Los Angeles, California
Source

Notes

  1. From 2016 to 2020
  2. until 2016
  3. under Gilbert Burns
  4. Musumeci mentioned his Italian ancestry on the Joe Rogan Podcast JRE MMA Show No. 127.
  5. at the time affiliated with ATOS

References

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  2. ^ "Michael Musumeci | FloGrappling".
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