Mikey Musumeci is preparing to make his MMA debut in the second half of 2026, targeting the 125lbs (56.7kg) weight class. The multiple-time world jiu-jitsu champion revealed the plan on his Overdogs BJJ podcast alongside UFC star Kody Steele, who has become his primary source of inspiration during what is currently a three-week-old striking education.
“I think I have my first match in end of September,” Musumeci said, noting he had spoken with head coach about the timeline just the night before. “After this, I think I’m going to start doing as many as I can.”
Musumeci trains at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas under John Wood, and the learning curve has been steep. On the day the podcast was recorded, he threw a proper punch for the very first time.
“I never threw a punch before in my life until today,” he said.
Despite being a newcomer to striking, Musumeci has a clear case for why 125lbs (56.7kg) is the right division.
“I think it’s a very good weight class for me,” he said. “I’ve never lost a grappling match at that weight class. I’m just physically very strong at that weight class.”
Steele, who navigated the same jiu-jitsu-to-MMA transition before earning a spot in the UFC, has become a central figure in Musumeci’s development. Musumeci drew a direct comparison to the role Ryan Hall played in Steele’s own career.
“I feel like you’re my Ryan Hall,” Musumeci told Steele. “Like you had Ryan Hall as inspiration, you’re my Ryan Hall now to watch and follow.”
The core challenge Musumeci is working through is converting his sport jiu-jitsu into a game that holds up under punches.
“Even when I’m training regular rounds for regular jiu-jitsu people, I’m constantly thinking, where can I get punched in the face? How can I do this move without getting knocked out?” he said.
His focus is on positions where the head stays protected, such as inside heel hooks and back takes, rather than the front-facing guard work that defines much of his competition record.
“We can just get not to di3 standing and hug people and get into that jiu-jitsu game and I don’t get knocked out, I think we’ll be in good shape,” Musumeci said of his overall approach.
He also confirmed plans to keep competing in UFC BJJ alongside his MMA schedule, intending to front-load those matches earlier in the year so the second half can center on fig hting. An upcoming grappling match with Bryce Mitchell will serve as a key test of his evolving game before the MMA debut arrives.
