SUMMARY
- Mikey Musumeci will take on Gabriel Sousa at ONE 167.
- Coincidentally, Sousa was the last person to submit Musumeci.
ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey Musumeci has been a dominant force in ONE Championship, but a ghost from his past has arrived to put an end to his run.
The last man to submit “Darth Rigatoni,” Gabriel Sousa, has joined the martial arts giant and the pair will renew hostilities at ONE 167 on Prime Video. The non-title, bantamweight submission grappling tilt takes place at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 7. The Brazilian defeated Musumeci in 2021 during a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament, but this time, he says, the second installment of their rivalry carries even greater weight.
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“It’s going to be very different. It will be on the ONE platform, something much bigger with a much larger audience and a much better structure,” Sousa said.
“I’m happy for the opportunity and happy that Mikey agreed to fight me in a weight division above his. He doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. I have a lot of respect for him. His attitude speaks for itself.
“I’m also very grateful to ONE for making this fight happen. I know that many people asked for this fight, and it will finally happen. Everyone stands to gain.”
So, how does it play out this time?
Gabriel Sousa outlines his plan to tap Mikey Musumeci
Gabriel Sousa is confident of going 2-0 against Mikey Musumeci when the pair face off again at ONE 167 on Prime Video. In their initial meeting, Sousa won via north-south choke, but the 27-year-old is open to all possibilities this time around.
“Our fighting styles are different. I like takedowns and I like passing guard. Mikey, on the other hand, likes to play guard and take the back or attack foot locks. He is an expert at what he does, and I am an expert at what I do. It will be a great fight,” he said.
“It can end in several ways, but I believe Mikey will pull guard. He won’t trade takedowns with me. He will play underneath, playing guard, and I’m going to try to pass his guard. My focus will be on passing to side control or taking the back, and Mikey’s focus will be on attacking my legs or taking my back.
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“If I could choose an outcome, of course, I would like to pass his guard and submit him on his back. But, again, we are two very high-level athletes. Let’s see how it goes this time.”
While Sousa is making his promotional debut, Musumeci has won 14-straight matches since their first meeting, including six in ONE Championship.