The upcoming 135 lbs (61.2 kg) championship match at UFC BJJ has drawn sharp criticism from within the grappling community, with many questioning whether the promotion is genuinely interested in meaningful competition for pound for pound standout Mikey Musumeci.
Dantzler doesn’t even have a BJJHeroes page. Back in October of 2025 he lost 13-0 in the quarter finals of 2025 IBJJF Pan NoGi Championship in the Light Featherweight division.
Most people think of Dantzler as a guy from MMA – but this is a misconception. Dantzler competes in Grappling in MMA promotions like Cage Fury. He was previously matched with Aljamain Sterling in that controversial match after which Sterling slammed BJJ. Dantzler edged out a win over Sterling but he received no recognition for it because it wasn’t an impessive performance.
The matchup, set for UFC BJJ 8 on May 21, pits Mikey Musumeci against Kevin Dantzler in what is billed as a contest for the number one spot in the world at 135 lbs (61.2 kg). The problem, according to vocal critics, is the credibility of the opponent. A video posted by Max Hanson laid out the concern plainly after details of the booking surfaced.
“This is the 135 lb championship () for UFC BJJ,” Hanson said in the clip. “This is supposed to be for the number one spot in the world for 135, and my teammate, who’s a purple belt, tapped this dude out two weeks ago. Make no mistake, this is simply a showcase for Mikey to tap this guy out quite quickly. “
The frustration extends beyond this single booking. UFC BJJ currently has Joao Miyao under contract, a world class competitor who would represent a genuine test at that weight. The fact that a credible, high level matchup exists within the promotion’s own roster makes the Dantzler selection even harder for fans to accept.
Junny Ocasio, Joao Miyao, Gabi Garcia and many others reacted negatively to the booking.
UFC BJJ has been received with mixed feelings up to this point due to the odd way the UFC has decided to apply its model, without much thought, to everything from promotion to media.
