Mikey Musumeci has all the time been enamored by how ONE Championship embodies the “Bushido Code,” or the eight virtues of the samurai. In truth, it’s one of many greatest the reason why he determined to just accept ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong’s supply to signal with the promotion earlier this 12 months.
Following his spectacular efficiency in opposition to Mazakazu Imanari at ONE 156 this previous April, ‘Darth Rigatoni’ has additional grown his legend as some of the recognizable stars within the grappling scene.
The 26-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace even has a shot at historical past. He’ll try to develop into the inaugural ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion at ONE on Prime Video 2: Xiong vs Lee III this Friday, September 30.
Standing in his method will probably be a well-known foe in Cleber ‘Clandestino’ Sousa, whom Musumeci has beforehand fought twice and cut up their first two encounters. The stakes will probably be excessive for his or her third contest, which can air stay at US primetime by way of Prime Video.
Forward of the most important combat of his life, Mikey Musumeci went into element on why shifting to ONE Championship was probably the greatest choices of his life.
The American grappling sensation informed ONE in an unique interview:
“What I actually like about ONE is it isn’t a poisonous atmosphere. It’s extremely, probably not that a lot smack speak. It is simply respect, , as a result of it is simply martial arts. Chatri actually values martial arts and respect. So the power that he brings to the desk actually influences all of the athletes.”
It’s clear that ONE’s core values definitely align with Musumeci. A lot in order that the American even packed his luggage and moved to Singapore to coach at Evolve MMA on a full-time foundation.
Mikey Musumeci believes trash speak is pointless in fight sports activities
These days, fight sports activities and trash-talking appear to go hand-in-hand. In spite of everything, it’s the quickest and best solution to promote fights. Mikey Musumeci is accustomed to pointless animosity because it wasn’t any completely different within the Brazilian jiu-jitsu scene.
The five-time IBJJF black belt world champion shared in the identical interview with ONE:
“There is a poisonous a part of jiu-jitsu with all that cr*p-talk and stuff, the place individuals are making an attempt to earn cash with cr*p-talking. I am probably not snug with that. I am a distinct kind of individual, and I am very introverted. I’ve quite a lot of associates which can be like me as effectively, they usually give up jiu-jitsu due to that poisonous method.”
Now that ‘Darth Rigatoni’ has a brand new residence on the earth’s largest martial arts group, he’s grateful he doesn’t should undergo that stuff once more.
“I do not actually take pleasure in jiu-jitsu when that a part of it’s concerned. Chatri offers us a format and a platform the place we do not have to be that kind of individual, . I really feel like in some locations, folks, they type of pressure folks to try this stuff.”
Mikey Musumeci is really considered one of a sort. He’s an exemplary fighter contained in the circle, and a good higher individual exterior of it.