Ranking Mikey Musumeci’s run in ONE Championship so far

Mikey Musumeci has been nothing however perfection in his run with ONE Championship.

The American grappler is the inaugural and reigning ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion and holds an ideal 4-0 report within the promotion.

‘Darth Rigatoni’ made his ONE Championship debut in April 2022 and has since run by means of everybody that the promotion put in entrance of him.

The legendary Masakazu Imanari, Cleber Sousa, Gantumur Bayanduuren, and most lately Osamah Almarwai all fell sufferer to the drive of Musumeci’s submission holds.

Whereas his spotless report does maintain a ton of weight, his victories will at all times range from the spectacular to the otherworldly.

That stated, we’re right here to rank Musumeci’s run and look again at his excellent run in ONE Championship to this point.

#4. Cleber Sousa

Mikey Musumeci was put in a historic place heading into ONE on Prime Video 2 towards outdated rival Cleber Sousa.

The pair already squared off towards each other practically 5 years earlier than their fateful encounter for the ONE flyweight submission grappling world title. Sousa took the win towards Musumeci of their first assembly within the 2017 IBJFF Pan American Championship’s gi class.

Musumeci avenged that loss, although, only a month later within the 2017 Abu Dhabi World Professional. Their assembly contained in the circle finally gave them the chance to interrupt that stalemate, in addition to battle one another for a chunk of historical past.

With the match carrying a lot historical past behind it, Musumeci labored his hardest to safe a spotlight reel submission.

Sousa, although, was far too intelligent to fall for his outdated rival’s methods.

Nonetheless, Musumeci mounted a lot offense that Sousa finally bought himself locked in a few holds.

Finally it was ‘Darth Rigatoni’s fixed pursuit of a end, in addition to an total extra aggressive recreation, that earned him the choice win to turn out to be the inaugural ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion.

#3. Gantumur Bayanduuren

After outsmarting his outdated rival Cleber Sousa for inaugural gold, Mikey Musumeci’s first world title protection was arrange for the beginning of ONE Championship’s 2023 calendar at ONE Struggle Evening 6.

Standing throughout Musumeci was Mongolian fighter Gantumur Bayanduuren.

Musumeci knew that Bayanduuren was going to be a troublesome opponent, however he didn’t gauge simply how powerful the Fight Sambo world champion can be.

Proper from the opening bell, Musumeci hunted Bayanduuren’s legs and finally slapped in his signature “Mikey Lock”. The American star cranked as onerous as he might to drive Bayanduuren to submit, however the Mongolian star fought by means of all of it.

Bayanduuren was below Musumeci’s management all through the match that he barely had any offense. Whereas his hardest and grit have been admirable, his averse angle in direction of tapping out finally price him.

Musumeci ended up retaining the ONE flyweight submission grappling world title by way of unanimous choice, whereas Bayanduuren was rushed to the hospital after struggling a number of accidents to his leg.

#2. Masakazu Imanari

Mikey Musumeci was one of many most-hyped athletes to ever make his debut in ONE Championship.

A five-time BJJ world champion earlier than signing with ONE Championship, Musumeci knew that he had his work would reduce out for him the second he made the stroll to the circle.

Musumeci, although, made positive that each one the hype was warranted.

Going through off towards Japanese legend Masakazu Imanari, Musumeci near-guaranteed that his debut match at ONE 156 can be one thing to recollect.

Musumeci instantly pulled guard to basically forestall Imanari from utilizing his trademark leg transition, the aptly named Imanari Roll.

The pair would commerce leg lock makes an attempt within the first couple of minutes till Musumeci calmly handed and took mount place. One other move and Musumeci discovered himself taking Imanari’s again to take the medical rear-naked choke submission win.

#1. Osamah Almarwai

This will look like recency bias, however make no mistake, Mikey Musumeci’s victory over Osamah Almarwai was really otherworldly.

Musumeci fought in the USA for the primary time since signing with ONE Championship and promptly placed on a present in entrance of his residence followers.

‘Darth Rigatoni’ additionally had the right opponent in Osamah Almarwai. The 2 are Brazilian jiu-jitsu wizards who’re absolutely able to placing on a high-octane present that will pull in even probably the most informal of viewers.

Almarwai had a stellar run in 2022 whereby he turned an IBJJ No-Gi world champion, however Musumeci is simply one other beast altogether.

Musumeci was aggressive proper from the beginning and shortly had Almarwai below his management. The reigning ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion slapped in a good leg lock early on, however the Yemeni star proved too gutsy for the submission maintain.

After making a move to take Almarwai’s again, it didn’t take lengthy for Musumeci to sneak in and slap in a rear-naked choke for the submission win.