Mikey Musumeci facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mikey Musumeci
Musumeci in 2022
Born	Michael Musumeci Jr. (1996-07-07) July 7, 1996 (age 29) Marlboro, New Jersey, U.S.
Nickname(s)	Darth Rigatoni
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight	134 lb; 9.6 st (61 kg)
Division	Feather / Rooster Gi Weight Classes Under 64 kilograms (141 lb) No-Gi Weight Classes Under 61.5 kilograms (136 lb)
Reach	67 in (170 cm)
Style	Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Team	Pedigo Submission Fighting Caio Terra Association Atos / Art of Jiu Jitsu Evolve MMA Cobrinha BJJ
Rank	Third degree black belt in BJJ
Notable relatives	Tammi Musumeci (sister)
Medal record Representing  United States Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship Gold 2021 California, USA − 57.5 kg Gold 2019 California, USA − 57.5 kg Gold 2018 California, USA − 64 kg Gold 2017 California, USA − 64 kg World No-GI Championship Gold 2016 California, USA − 61.5 kg Pan-American Championship Gold 2016 Florida, USA − 57.5 kg European Championship Gold 2020 Lisbon, Portugal -64 kg Gold 2017 Lisbon, Portugal -64 kg AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro Gold 2017 Abu Dhabi, UAE −62 kg AJP Grand Slam World Tour Gold 2016 Los Angeles, USA −62 kg

Michael Musumeci Jr. (born July 7, 1996) is an American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt. He is a top competitor in submission grappling, which is a type of wrestling without the traditional uniform. Mikey is currently signed with UFC BJJ, where he is the very first UFC BJJ Bantamweight Champion.

Mikey Musumeci has won many titles. He is a five-time IBJJF black belt World Champion. This includes four times in Gi (wearing the traditional uniform) and once in No-Gi (without the uniform). He is also the first American to win more than one IBJJF World title at black belt. Before joining UFC BJJ, he competed in ONE Championship. There, he was the first Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion.

Early Life and Training

Michael Musumeci Jr. was born in Marlboro, New Jersey. He started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) when he was only four years old. His sister, Tammi Musumeci, also trained with him. They learned BJJ at Fatjo's Martial Arts Academy.

When Mikey was 10, his family moved to Florida. He trained at different academies there. He met famous BJJ brothers Rafael and Guilherme Mendes at a seminar. This meeting started a long training relationship with them.

Becoming a Black Belt

Mikey Musumeci won many championships as he grew up. He won IBJJF world championships at every belt level, starting from juvenile blue belt. In 2014, when he was a purple belt, he won a world title. Right after that, Guilherme Mendes gave him his brown belt.

In 2015, at just 18 years old, Mikey received his black belt. This is the highest rank in BJJ. His black belt was awarded by Gilbert Burns, another famous BJJ fighter.

Black Belt Achievements

After getting his black belt, Mikey Musumeci continued to win. In 2016, he won the Pan American Championship. He also won the World No-Gi Championship that same year. In 2016, he joined Caio Terra's team.

In 2017, Mikey won the UAEJJF World Pro in his weight class. He also won the World Championship in the Lightfeather division. He became World Champion for the second time in 2018. He then won two more World Championships in 2019 and 2021, competing in a lighter weight division.

2021: New Challenges

In 2021, Mikey Musumeci started competing in "Who's Number One" (WNO) events. On March 26, 2021, he won his first WNO match by using an armbar. He won another WNO match on May 28, 2021, with a heelhook. On June 18, 2021, he won his third WNO match by decision.

Mikey also competed for the first WNO Bantamweight title on October 20, 2021. He won the belt by using a special leglock. This move is now called 'The Mikey Lock'.

He was supposed to compete in the 2022 ADCC World Championship. However, he had to pull out because of an injury. At the end of 2021, Mikey and his sister Tammi joined a new gym called Pedigo Submission Fighting.

2022: Moving to ONE Championship

Mikey Musumeci defended his WNO Bantamweight title on January 21, 2022. He won by decision. Soon after, he signed with ONE Championship, a big martial arts organization. He then moved to Singapore to train at Evolve MMA.

His first fight in ONE Championship was on April 22, 2022. He won by using a rear-naked choke. He also earned a $50,000 bonus for his great performance.

On October 1, 2022, Mikey fought for the first ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Championship. He won the match by decision and became the first champion in that division.

2023: Defending His Title

Mikey Musumeci defended his ONE Championship title several times in 2023. On January 14, 2023, he won his first title defense by decision. His opponent suffered serious leg injuries from Mikey's submission attempts.

On May 5, 2023, he defended his title again. He won by rear-naked choke. On August 5, 2023, he won another title defense with an armbar.

Mikey also competed in an openweight grappling match on October 6, 2023. He won this match by submission.

2024: New Teams and UFC BJJ

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, he competed in ONE 167 and won by submission. He was scheduled for other big matches, but they were canceled due to injuries to his opponents.

On November 2, 2024, Mikey announced he was leaving ONE Championship. He then signed a special contract with UFC Fight Pass. He made his debut on December 5, 2024, and won his match by decision.

2025: Becoming UFC BJJ Champion

On June 25, 2025, Mikey Musumeci faced Rerisson Gabriel for the first ever UFC BJJ Bantamweight World Championship. He won the match by using a heel hook submission. This made him the first champion in this new division.

Personal Life

Mikey Musumeci has Italian family roots. He is a big fan of Star Wars. He uses the nickname 'Darth Rigatoni'. This nickname combines his love for Star Wars with his favorite food, pasta!

His sister, Tammi Musumeci, is also a very good Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor. In November 2023, Mikey announced a partnership with Meta, a big technology company.

Championships and Awards

Mikey Musumeci has won many important championships and awards throughout his career:

• UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
  • UFC BJJ Bantamweight World Championship (He was the first to win this title!)
• ONE Championship
  • ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Championship (He was the first to win this title and defended it 3 times!)
  • Performance of the Night (Five times)
  • Most wins in ONE Championship Submission Grappling (7 wins)
  • Most title defenses in ONE Championship Submission Grappling (3 defenses)
• Who's Number One
  • WNO Bantamweight Championship (He was the first to win this title and defended it once!)

Main Achievements (Black Belt)

• 2021: IBJJF World Championship
• 2020: IBJJF European Championship
• 2020: IBJJF Foley International Open Championship
• 2019: IBJJF World Championship
  • He holds the world record for the fastest submission in an IBJJF world championship adult black belt final.
• 2018: IBJJF World Championship
• 2017: IBJJF World Championship
  • He was the first American to win more than one IBJJF World title at black belt.
• 2017: IBJJF European Championship
• 2017: UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship
• 2016: IBJJF No-Gi World Championship
• 2016: IBJJF Pan-American Championship
• 2016: UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Grand Slam World Tour
• 2016: IBJJF American Nationals
• 2015: IBJJF American Nationals

Main Achievements (Colored Belts)

• 2015: IBJJF World Championship (brown belt)
• 2015: IBJJF Pan-American Championship (brown belt)
• 2014: IBJJF World Championship (purple belt)
• 2014: IBJJF Pan-American Championship (purple belt)
• 2013: IBJJF Juvenile World Championship (blue belt)
• 2013: IBJJF Juvenile Pan-American Championship (blue belt)
• 2012: IBJJF Juvenile World Championship (blue belt)
• 2012: IBJJF Juvenile Pan-American Championship (blue belt)
• 2011: IBJJF Juvenile No-Gi World Championship (blue belt)
• 2011: IBJJF Juvenile Pan-American Championship (blue belt)

Instructor Lineage

This shows the teachers who taught Mikey Musumeci, tracing back to the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Teachers

Lineage 1

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

Lineage 2

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

See also

In Spanish: Mikey Musumeci para niños

• List of Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners
• UFC BJJ
• List of ONE Championship champions
• World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship