SUMMARY
- Mikey Musumeci is a growing superstar and is slowly becoming a global phenomenon.
- Aside from his fame, Musumeci is also an amazing grappler and currently holds the ONE Grappling World Championship.
A blockbuster fight could be in store for Mikey Musumeci on his next appearance in ONE Championship. The ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion has led the way for the introduction of submission-only bouts in the promotion.
The 27-year-old is undefeated in his six bouts so far, including three defenses of the inaugural flyweight submission grappling strap he won back in 2022. In a recent interview, however, Musumeci hinted that a foray into mixed martial arts is in his plans.
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“I definitely have a cool group of guys that could mentor and influence me into MMA eventually,” he said. “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.”
So, who could be the next opponent for “Darth Rigatoni?”
Did Chatri Sityodtong just reveal the next opponent for Mikey Musumeci?
ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong has dropped a huge hint that a mixed rules fight could be in Mikey Musumeci’s future. Speaking to BJPenn.com, the ONE boss revealed that conversations regarding a fight against flyweight legend Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson have been discussed.
“We’ve been trying to get DJ a mixed rules super-fight between DJ and Mikey Musumeci, the ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion,” Sityodtong said. “I think that would be a spectacular fight as well. I think DJ is more, right now, in cruise control having won his last World Title fight. When he’s ready, he’ll let us know when he wants to fight.”
Johnson is no stranger to mixed rules super-fights. The ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion locked horns with flyweight Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon back in 2022 in a fight that alternated its rule set between MMA and Muay Thai from round to round.
In the first fight of its kind, Johnson was able to weather the storm during a pulsating first round under Muay Thai rules before snatching a quick rear-naked choke submission in the second frame in his preferred MMA rule set.