Grappling star Mikey Musumeci has revealed he competed in his latest match while dealing with a serious health condition that impacted his performance.
The jiu-jitsu phenom disclosed on social media that he had been suffering from three stomach ulcers during his recent appearance at the UFC Invitational 9 in Las Vegas.
“Just found out I did my last match with 3 stomach ulcers after I couldn’t stand straight from the pain; too much stress fixing them now will be 100% for next match. Thank you everyone that supports me” Musumeci wrote on his social media.
Musumeci was hospitalized back in September as well. In a statement, Musumeci revealed he was then diagnosed with pneumomediastinum, a condition where air enters the chest cavity. He believes the injury occurred on Wednesday during his weight cut while performing Rickson Gracie diaphragm breathing exercises.
“This is a life-threatening condition, and if I would have competed, I could have died the doctor told me,” Musumeci stated. “So first I was upset, now I’m full of gratitude to be alive and that I didn’t keep pushing. God protected me.”
Despite the painful Ulcer condition, Musumeci still managed to put on a competitive showing, repeatedly attempting achilles locks and heel hooks throughout the contest. Though he secured a victory, he expressed disappointment in his post-match interview for not achieving a submission finish.
“I didn’t finish the match so I felt [disappointed],” Musumeci said in his post-match interview. “I just want to apologize to the fans for not getting a finish today. I did my best, I’ll get better and next time let’s hope I can finish.”
The grappling ace also revealed he’s been maintaining an intense schedule, noting he’s “been in camp for over a year with like eight matches that got cancelled.” He expressed his desire to take a break and celebrate the holiday season before returning to competition.
Musumeci assured fans he is now treating the ulcers and expects to be fully recovered for his next competitive appearance.
