Currently dominating gripping sensation, Mikey Musumeci, is not completely denying the possibility of transitioning to mixed martial arts, but only after he will be done in putting on the UFC banner for jiu-jitsu.
The one time ONE grappling champion exit the Asian promotion and was linked as a big signing to the UFC and entered into a different kind of contract with the promotions and explained his plans after signing to fight on the UFC Fight Pass Invitational shows starting with his bout against Felipe Machado on December 5 in Las Vegas after being introduced during the UFC 309 event at the Madison Square Garden this past weekend.
‘It’s all so incredible to me,’ Musumeci said. On that note we are looking for big changes in the sport. It all started with IBJJF which was fine we now can develop the sport to another level for other people. This is my dream. I already have many titles, I don’t need more titles. Lack of an organization will make a future generation suffer, and all I wish to have is an organization that will help the generation make enough money.”
Which being connected to the world’s largest MMA promotion could help Musumeci to secure larger sponsorship deals when he transitions to the sport in the future, which he is.
“I have the desire to maybe do MMA again in the future,” Musumeci said. That’s true I am young, my body is very, very young. I don’t use steroids and, therefore, must be probably twenty-one, twenty at most. I can have many more years of competition still.
That’s why it’s great to be in the UFC now as I will be able to actually spar with a lot of more people I would not in the pass and actually learn from them on stand up, takedown, wrestling. MMA fighting is the first thing I loved in life. That’s too a dream if I can have the opportunity to fight MMA in the UFC. I would like to do MMA but the talent or the gift from the Lord was Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. So before, I have to expand the sport. I can’t quit our sport before getting that sport to a level at which other people, other kids will have an organisation to practice for in the future.”
The 28-year-old continued and said that if he could choose what fighters have the perfect game for an MMA fight he would have Ryan Hall, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Khamzat Chimaev. He trains with Gilbert Burns who has taught him his black belt in jiu-jitsu and has Brandon Moreno, the former UFC flyweight champion, as a training partner to also incorporate into his arsenal.
“I have so many good people in my life ,” Musumeci said. “But, again, like I said, I want to help the sport of jiu-jitsu grow first.” That’s my responsibility, that is a feeling that I have within me that I have to support my sport first. “And then I can do something crazy [laughs].
Musumeci fought solely under the ONE Championship starting in April of 2022 and stated it was “an incredible part of my life.” He separated with the promotion immediately following canceled scraps that saw him admitted “with a life-threatening condition” due to a failed weight cut.
‘I am very thankful to Chatri [Sityodtong] for what he has done for me,’ Musumeci said. There they got three great years of their life. I have known so much from him, he has being of immense assistance in my life. The only thing I have to say about him and ONE is thank you for all the help they have provided.”
‘The idea in ONE Championship’s case was to craft a card filled not only with MMA fights, but grappling, kickboxing, and muay thai, to which Musumeci said ‘It is a good way to bring jiu jitsu to the fans of the other martial arts.’
“And now the UFC has many, many plans for grappling,” Musumeci said. “They would also like to grow our sport to other people.” The thing I loved about ONE was that MMA and may thai people watching jiu-jitsu, and the UFC will grow our sport that people will start watching and loving jiu-jitsu, too.”
The four-time IBJJF champion added to the feat the UFC placing more grapplers in a “safer” area to compete in, as well.
“The issue with many organisations now, brother, is that [athletes] are not safe,” Musumeci said. Now and then they are able to raise money, sometimes they cannot.” Too much politics. Now at least with the UFC we have that organization which will be safer and more professional with other people. Hi We are the people who dedicated ourselves for this sport My dream is to make this sport grow.
Musumeci left ONE with seven wins in seven matches including submission wins against Shinya Aoki and Jarred Brooks. This would make his first trip to Las Vegas to face Felipe Machado on the week of the UFC 310, and like most of them, he relishes the pressure that comes with being a star.
“There’s a lot of f***ing pressure on me this time,” Musumeci chuckled. “This time I have the biggest pressure ever but I enjoy it because pressure is something I build from. They pressure me too much, but I am okay with this type of pressure. ; You feel like you are dying but then get accustomed to dying they say. I actually appreciate that pressure, and most of this pressure I’m turning into energy, to have even higher appetite in the gym. A hungry Musumeci will be seen ready to end the match.”
