Mikey Musumeci is no longer the UFC BJJ bantamweight champion. The award-winning jiu-jitsu champion and face of the promotion has announced that he is officially vacating his belt to prioritize his transition to mixed martial arts.
“END OF CHAPTER TWO – Today I want to announce that I have decided to vacate my @ufcbjj bantamweight title,” Musumeci wrote on social media. “I haven’t lost a match in this division for almost 10 years and I’ve won every title I’ve wanted to win in my career in gi and nog. (ADCC is not my division and I have no ambition to go up weight classes with no money 🤣 so yeah) I’m 30 years old and I’ve been obsessed with MMA training and I want to do MMA training!”
The promotion also confirmed the news in time UFC BJJ 12 show. Musumeci did not announce specific dates for a potential MMA debut, but the jiu-jitsu star says he will also continue with UFC BJJ in “superfights.”
“I still practice Jiu Jitsu every day and can come back anytime 🥸… I’ll keep doing more fights with @ufcbjj, just a different style of Jiu Jitsu to get people to watch our sport! It means more to me at this point in my career,” he wrote. “I’m excited for my next chapter SO MANY CRAZY THINGS AHEAD”
Musumeci recently dominated by UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell, despite offering modified rules, and intends to continue competing in similar cross-country events in the future.
Musumeci Ends ‘Serious’ BJJ Career, Highlights UFC BJJ’s Failure to Book Serious Matches
It’s understandable that Mikey Musumeci would prefer to cash in on relatively simple and fun matches, but at the same time, closing this chapter prematurely also highlights how his UFC BJJ stint was handled.
Including one bout with the UFC Fight Pass Invitational before rebranding, Musumeci competed in six bouts with the UFC, in matches criticized by key players in the industry. Only one of his opponents was against the world champion — Shay Montagueno gi world champion in the lightweight division – while the rest of his opponents were overpowered and qualified for title fights with someone like Musumeci.
It’s not Musumec’s fault, but in their two years together, UFC BJJ matchmakers failed to book the best possible opponents for a champion of his caliber. It could be argued that the UFC wanted to focus on increasing promotion to a new audience instead of booking the best matches for those who already follow the sport. But as Musumeci closes the book on his “serious” jiujitsu career, it seems fair to ask how much of that actually happened in UFC BJJ.
However, from Musumec’s side, he seems to be doing a great job as a prizefighter as he no longer needs to prove himself. He has already won major titles in IBJJF, ONE and UFC BJJ and has used it perfectly to increase his status and popularity with each match. Regardless of whether he actually makes the jump to MMA anytime soon, it looks like he has similar bookings to Mitchell’s crossover and will continue to make money fighting much easier opponents.
Musumec’s teammate Jalen Fonacier competes for the vacant UFC BJJ title
With Musumeci vacating his title, it didn’t take long for the UFC to move on with his division. As reported at the time UFC BJJ 12 Musumec’s teammate and two-time IBJJF World Champion on the show Jalen Fonacier will next get a chance to compete for the vacant UFC BJJ bantamweight title.
When Musumeci held the bantamweight belt, he repeatedly called on UFC BJJ to open up a flyweight division where Fonacier would get a title shot in his more natural weight class. He now gets a title shot, but instead for the belt that his teammate has vacated.
The 21-year-old Filipino is a perfect 4-0 with UFC BJJ. Fonacier faces Kleber Barbozawho will make his title debut right away after signing up and winning the UFC BJJ Opens in Las Vegas.
Other top acts such as Nick Rodriguez and Ffion Davies have also been booked for UFC BJJ 13 on October 29.
UFC BJJ 13 fight card so far
Jalen Fonacier vs. Kleber Barboza (BW title)
Nick Rodriguez vs. Nata Tenca
Ffion Davies Vs. Jaine Fragoso
Liam Crelinsten vs. Seilkhan Bolatbek
Martin Gonzalez vs. Joao Nicolite
Tristan Sainz vs. David Weintraub
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