Mikey Musumeci facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mikey Musumeci |
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Musumeci in 2022
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| Born | Michael Musumeci Jr. July 7, 1996 Marlboro, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Nickname(s) | Darth Rigatoni | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 134 lb; 9.6 st (61 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division | Feather / Rooster
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| Reach | 67 in (170 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Brazilian Jiu Jitsu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Rank | Third degree black belt in BJJ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relatives | Tammi Musumeci (sister) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Michael Musumeci Jr. (born July 7, 1996) is an American expert in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and submission grappling. He holds a black belt in BJJ. Mikey is known for being a five-time IBJJF black belt World Champion. He won four of these titles in Gi (with the traditional uniform) and one in No-Gi (without the uniform). He was also the first American to win more than one IBJJF World title at black belt. Mikey has also been a champion in ONE Championship, where he held the flyweight submission grappling title.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Michael Musumeci Jr. was born in Marlboro, New Jersey, on July 7, 1996. His family has Italian roots. He started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) when he was just four years old. His sister, Tammi Musumeci, also trained with him. They learned at Fatjo's Martial Arts Academy with coach Fernando "Cabeça".
When Mikey was 10, his family moved to Florida. He trained at different gyms there. During a seminar, he met the famous brothers Rafael and Guilherme Mendes from Art of Jiu Jitsu (AOJ). This meeting started a long training relationship with them.
Mikey won IBJJF world championships at every belt level as he grew up. In 2014, after winning a purple belt world title, Guilherme Mendes gave him his brown belt right on the podium. In 2015, when he was 18, Mikey received his black belt from Gilbert Burns.
Black Belt Success
After getting his black belt, Mikey Musumeci quickly became a top competitor. In 2016, he won the Pan American Championship and the World No-Gi Championship. Later that year, he joined Caio Terra's team.
In 2017, Mikey won the UAEJJF World Pro in the 62 kg weight class. He also won the World Championship in the Lightfeather division. In 2018, he became World Champion for the second time. He then won the World Championship two more times in 2019 and 2021, competing in a lighter weight division.
2021 Competitions
Mikey Musumeci made his first appearance at Who's Number One (WNO) on March 26, 2021. He won his match by using an armbar. He returned to WNO on May 28, 2021, and won again with a heelhook. His third WNO match was on June 18, 2021, where he won by decision.
Mikey then competed in the first WNO Championships. He lost his first match, which removed him from the tournament. However, he later competed for the first WNO Bantamweight title on October 20, 2021. He won the belt by using a leglock, which is now called 'The Mikey Lock'.
Musumeci was invited to compete in the 2022 ADCC World Championship. Before that, he faced Geo Martinez on July 17, 2021, and won by points. After the match, there was a heated discussion between them. Mikey later had to pull out of the ADCC 2022 event because of an injury.
At the end of 2021, Mikey and his sister Tammi moved to a new gym. They joined Pedigo Submission Fighting to train with Heath Pedigo.
2022 Highlights
Mikey Musumeci successfully defended his WNO Bantamweight title on January 21, 2022, winning by decision. Soon after, he signed with ONE Championship. He then moved to Singapore to train at Evolve MMA.
In his first ONE Championship grappling match on April 22, 2022, Mikey faced Masakazu Imanari. He won the match by using a rear-naked choke. He also received a $50,000 bonus for his great performance.
On October 1, 2022, Mikey competed for the first ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Championship. He faced Cleber Sousa and won the match by decision, becoming the champion.
2023 and Title Defenses
Mikey was set to defend his title on January 14, 2023, but his opponent had to withdraw. Gantumur Bayanduuren stepped in to replace him. Mikey won the match by decision and kept his title. His opponent, Bayanduuren, suffered some leg injuries during the match.
Mikey defended his title again on May 5, 2023, against Osamah Almarwai. He won the match with a rear-naked choke and remained the flyweight champion.
On August 5, 2023, Mikey defended his title against Jarred Brooks. He won the match using an armbar and kept his championship belt.
Mikey also competed in an openweight grappling match against Shinya Aoki on October 6, 2023. He won this match by submission with a move called an Aoki lock.
2024 and New Challenges
In February 2024, Mikey Musumeci announced he was leaving Pedigo Submission Fighting. He joined Cobrinha BJJ to train under Rubens Charles Maciel.
On June 7, 2024, Mikey competed against Gabriel Sousa in a bantamweight match at ONE 167. He won the match by submission.
Mikey was scheduled for a special match at the Craig Jones Invitational in August, but it was canceled. He was also set to challenge Kade Ruotolo for his ONE lightweight title on September 6, 2024. However, Ruotolo had to withdraw due to an injury.
On November 2, 2024, Mikey announced he would no longer compete in ONE Championship. He then signed a special contract with UFC Fight Pass. He made his debut there on December 5, 2024, against Felipe Machado and won the match by decision.
Personal Life
Mikey Musumeci has Italian family background. He is a big fan of Star Wars. His nickname, 'Darth Rigatoni', comes from a fan's idea that combined his love for Star Wars and pasta.
His sister, Tammi Musumeci, is also a very talented Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor.
In November 2023, Mikey announced a partnership with Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram.
Major Achievements
Here are some of Mikey Musumeci's biggest achievements:
- Holds the world record for the fastest submission in an IBJJF world championship adult black belt final.
- IBJJF World Champion (2021, 2019, 2018, 2017)
- IBJJF Pan American Champion (2016)
- IBJJF European Open Champion (2020, 2017)
- IBJJF American National Champion (2016, 2015)
- IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2016)
- UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (2017)
- UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Grand Slam LA Champion (2016)
- ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion (One time, with 3 successful defenses)
- Won "Performance of the Night" bonus five times in ONE Championship.
- Most wins in One Championship grappling (7 wins)
- Most title defenses in One Championship Submission Grappling (3 defenses)
Achievements in 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 | |
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| Win | 23-2 |  Joao Gabriel Sousa |
Submission (calf slicer) | ONE 167 | June 8, 2024 |  Bangkok, Thailand |
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| Win | 22-2 |  Shinya Aoki |
Submission (inside heel hook) | ONE Fight Night 15 | October 7, 2023 | Bangkok, Thailand |
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| Win | 21–2 |  Jarred Brooks |
Submission (triangle armbar) | ONE Fight Night 13 | August 5, 2023 | Bangkok, Thailand |
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| Win | 20–2 |  Osamah Almarwai |
Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE Fight Night 10 | May 5, 2023 | Broomfield, Colorado |
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| Win | 19–2 |  Bayanduuren Gantumur |
Decision (unanimous) | ONE Fight Night 6 | January 14, 2023 | Bangkok, Thailand |
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| Win | 18–2 | Cleber Souza |
Decision (unanimous) | ONE on Prime Video 2 | October 1, 2022 |  Kallang, Singapore |
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| Win | 17–2 | Masakazu Imanari |
Submission (rear naked choke) | ONE 156 | April 22, 2022 | Kallang, Singapore |
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| Win | 16–2 | Estevan Martinez |
Decision (unanimous) | Who's #1: Craig Jones vs. Pedro Marinho | January 21, 2022 | Dallas, Texas |
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| Win | 15–2 | Bruno Malfacine |
Decision (points) | IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship: Finals | December 12, 2021 | Anaheim, California |
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| Win | 14–2 | Richard Alarcon |
Submission (leg lock) | Who's #1: The Return of Gordon Ryan | October 20, 2021 | Austin, Texas |
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| Loss | 13–2 | Joao Gabriel Sousa |
Submission (north south choke) | 2021 FloGrappling WNO Championship: Day 1 | September 25, 2021 | Austin, Texas |
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| Win | 13–1 | Geovanny Martinez |
Decision (points) | Road to ADCC | July 18, 2021 | Austin, Texas |
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| Win | 12–1 | Edwin Ocasio |
Decision (unanimous) | Who's #1: Craig vs. Ruotolo | June 18, 2021 | Austin, Texas |
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| Win | 11–1 | Lucas Pinheiro |
Submission (inside heel hook) | Who's #1: Gordon Ryan vs. Luiz Panza | May 28, 2021 | Austin, Texas |
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| Win | 10–1 | Marcelo Cohen |
Submission (triangle armbar) | Who's #1: Gordon Ryan vs. Vagner Rocha | March 26, 2021 | Austin, Texas |
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| Loss | 9–1 | Mahamed Aly |
Decision (points) | European Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championship 2020 | January 25, 2020 |  Lisbon, Portugal |
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| Win | 9–0 | Francisco Jonas Andrade |
Decision (split) | ||||
| Win | 8–0 | Diego Oliveria Batista |
Submission (straight ankle lock) | ||||
| Win | 7–0 | Suraj Budhram |
Submission (arm-in ezekiel choke) | ||||
| Win | 6–0 | Joseph Lee |
Submission (omoplata) | World Jiu Jitsu Festival: Day 1 | October 5, 2019 | Long Beach, California |
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| Win | 5–0 | Rodnei Barbosa |
Submission (straight ankle lock) | 2019 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | June 2, 2019 | Long Beach, California |
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| Win | 4–0 | Bruno Malfacine |
Decision (Points) | ||||
| Win | 3-0 | Koji Shibamoto |
Decision (Points) | ||||
| Win | 2–0 | Ary Farias |
Decision | 2018 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | June 3, 2018 | Los Angeles, California |
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| Win | 1–0 | João Miyao |
Decision | 2017 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | June 4, 2017 | Los Angeles, California |
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See also
In Spanish: Mikey Musumeci para niños
