Black Belt Team 
Since joining ONE Championship, Mikey Musumeci has helped elevate submission grappling to new heights. The ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion has wowed audiences with his aggressive style and lifted the Colorado crowd to its feet with his rear-naked choke win at ONE Fight Night 10.
But the New Jersey native is also eyeing a future in mixed martial arts.
“I definitely have a cool group of guys that could mentor and influence me into MMA eventually,” Musumeci expressed to ONE.
One of the allures to competing in MMA is to show that his BJJ game can transition along with him. Musumeci would want to still elevate the world of jiu-jitsu through his performances on the global stage, even if he is wearing four-ounce gloves.
“I want to fight in the future. I would love to. I love challenging myself, and … I love the challenge of it, and I would love to make my jiu-jitsu work with punches being thrown. I think that would be the coolest thing ever,” Musumeci said.
The flyweight standout has mentioned he could move around in divisions for submission grappling opportunities. However, if he makes the switch to MMA, “Darth Rigatoni” was adamant that he sees himself as a natural flyweight.
“If I did MMA, I would be in the 125-pound division. I think I’m really physically strong for that weight class, so I think that – if I learn stand-up from these best guys – I would have a really good shot,” the ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion stated.
If Musumeci transitions into MMA, he will not do so just to make headlines.
“Darth Rigatoni” will be coming for the gold.
“When I think about doing MMA, I think of it just like I think of jiu-jitsu: mastering whatever I’m working on. In jiu-jitsu, I don’t think about being a champion. I think about just being the best at whatever I’m working on, perfecting my moves. And that’s what makes me become a champion,” the flyweight said.
The American star has given no timetable for when he could compete in MMA. His focus remains on defending his title and laying claim to being the pound-for-pound best submission ace on the planet. But he is still planting the seed for what will come next.
Musumeci knows he will have to dedicate a significant portion of his training to striking. But the lifelong learner is confident that his dedicated approach will allow him to make great strides in perfecting the techniques he will need to be a complete martial artist.
“I feel like in stand-up, it will be the same thing. I’ll want to learn stand-up [so I could] be the best I can be in stand-up, and that [indirect] result will be me winning World Titles. I think my work ethic, how I train, and everything is perfect to become an MMA World Champion,” Musumeci said.
AND STILL 🏆 Mikey Musumeci’s Nasty Submission of Osamah Almarwai
Mikey Musumeci tapped out Yemeni star Osamah Almarwai to retain the ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title at ONE Fight Night 10! Tune in to Prime Vi…
Grappling, Bjj, Mixed martial arts, One championship
Black Belt Magazine
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