The jiu-jitsu world has become accustomed to Mikey Musumeci‘s unconventional approach to promoting the sport, but his latest commentary has raised eyebrows even among his most devoted followers. Fresh off viral attention for characterizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu as an “ultra violent” spectacle, the UFC BJJ star has now pivoted to an entirely different—and far more provocative—observation about the gentle art.
In a candid video posted to social media, Musumeci recounted a revelation that struck him while learning Portuguese. The multiple-time world champion explained that he had always been quick to defend jiu-jitsu against accusations of being “gay,” pointing to the sport’s combative nature as evidence to the contrary.
“A lot of people say, oh, Jiu-Jitsu’s gay. And I’m one of the first people to defend against them. You know, like, oh, we’re violent, we’re like harming each other, like, what’s gay about that?”
Musumeci said in the video.
But his perspective shifted during a Chicago Open match between Paulo Miyao and Gianni Grippo. As he listened to the corner coaching in Portuguese—a language he was still mastering—Musumeci heard something that stopped him in his tracks.
“Paulo’s corner screams, Paulo, stick your toes inside his butt. That’s what that means in Portuguese. So I’m like, wait, did I hear that right?”
Musumeci recounted, describing how he watched the technique being executed repeatedly at the coach’s urging.
After confirming the translation with Brazilian friends, Musumeci acknowledged this presented an entirely different lens through which to view the sport.
“So in Jiu-Jitsu, we’re always looking to manipulate different parts of the body. You know, I’ve thought about that. Neck, the arms, the legs. The only part I’ve never thought about is the butt. But apparently some people do,”
he noted.
The timing of Musumeci‘s provocative content appears strategic. With his Instagram following surging by over 10,000 followers daily and his page accumulating millions of views in recent weeks, the champion has mastered the art of viral marketing. These numbers are unprecedented for a jiu-jitsu athlete, catapulting him past Gordon Ryan in follower count.
Yet questions linger about authenticity. Just months ago, Musumeci was championing the UFC’s ‘new’ jiu-jitsu rule set, declaring that
“jiu-jitsu is insane that nobody really thinks about is how violent it is.”
He emphasized that
“if you choke someone and they don’t tap, they die. If you go for a joint submission, their arm will literally fall off or leg.”
That violent framing seemed tailored to MMA audiences.
“MMA fans love violence,”
Musumeci stated at the time, suggesting the UFC format would
“make the violence come out of jiu-jitsu where more people other than jiu-jitsu nerds could enjoy it.”
Critics note the whiplash between portraying jiu-jitsu as deadly serious violence one week and making jokes about questionable techniques the next. Some view this as evidence of calculated content creation rather than genuine advocacy for the sport. The champion’s contract with UFC expires imminently, lending credence to theories that his viral moments serve contract negotiation purposes.
Musumeci‘s recent title defense at UFC 320, where he submitted Kevin Carrasco in under three minutes with his signature “Mikey Lock,” drew mixed reactions despite the quick finish. His pre-match karate kid stance and post-victory theatrics—including thanking Tylenol during his speech—prompted backlash from traditionalists who felt he was making a mockery of the sport.
“They think it’s okay, it’s like manly, it’s like masculine, it’s tough if you just wrestle and you just collar tie and nothing happens, like one of the most boring matches ever. But if you go in and you just try to submit the person as fast as you can, that’s that’s gay. That’s feminine, you know?”
Musumeci said, addressing the criticism.
The champion has acknowledged struggling with the negative feedback.
“I just have to have tough skin and handle the hate that I get sometimes,”
he admitted.
“I never realized that, but I’m getting better with it over time. It’s just I’m very sensitive as you know.”
Whether Musumeci‘s content represents genuine moments of cultural observation or calculated viral marketing remains debatable. What’s undeniable is his ability to generate conversation and attention in a sport that has long struggled for mainstream recognition.
