Mikey Musumeci is one of the most unique characters in all of combat sports. “Darth Rigatoni” might look unassuming, but inside the Circle, he is one of the world’s very best grapplers, and his dominance has seen him attain and defend the ONE Championship Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title on several occasions.
Outside of competition, however, Musumeci is famous for his punishing training regime that involves up to 12 hours of honing his jiu-jitsu skills. Such is the 27-year-old’s love of the sport that he watches footage of himself training in between sessions just to see where he can improve. But it’s the American superstar’s diet that really sets him apart.
Musumeci completes his entire day fasted, save for a cup of coffee here and there. Then, at night, he indulges in a large meal of homemade pizza and pasta. After enjoying the carb-packed delicacies of his Italian heritage, he may even cap off his night with a pint of gelati.
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In a recent clip uploaded to Instagram, Musumeci answered the obvious questions that his eating habits have raised.
“Every night, I eat pizza and pasta after I train,” he said. “A lot of people think, ‘Oh, am I dead when I’m training?’ No, I’m actually super energetic because I eat so much at night that in the morning, I’m not hungry to eat anything.”
Mikey Musumeci takes the YOLO approach to his diet
Mikey Musumeci has a staggering four IBJJF World Championship’s to his name, as well as an IBJJF Title in the no-gi category.
He has also been a leading light in ONE’s burgeoning submission grappling division throughout his unbeaten six-bout run. Musumeci became the inaugural ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion after a dominant decision win over old rival, Cleber Sousa, at ONE Fight Night 2 in 2022.
“Darth Rigatoni” was last seen overcoming a serious bout of illness to face MMA legend Shinya Aoki in an openweight grappling feature earlier this month. Incredibly, Musumeci stopped “Tobikan Judan” with the Japanese man’s own signature heel-hook submission, extending his win streak to six.
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Given his resounding success on the global stage, it’s hard to argue with his methods. Musumeci himself summed it up best in a recent interview. “Honestly, I just live life every day, you know. We could die at any moment, right? So, I just want to enjoy each meal I have on this earth,” he said.
“I really enjoy what I eat, and it’s not affecting my weight. And I’ve had blood tests, and all my blood numbers are amazing. I don’t have high cholesterol or anything. So, it works.”
What is your take on this unique lifestyle approach from Mikey Musumeci? Let us know in the comments down below.