Mikey Musumeci has withdrawn from ONE 168: Denver due to a potentially life-threatening lung injury following a failed weight cut. The grappling world champion was initially set to challenge Kade Ruotolo for the ONE lightweight submission grappling world championship on September 6, moving up three weight classes for the bout.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Ruotolo was forced to withdraw due to injury. In response, ONE Championship and Musumeci agreed to a late-notice replacement bout against Carlos “Bebeto” Oliveira, with Musumeci’s flyweight title on the line.
According to a statement from ONE Championship, Musumeci personally requested to compete at flyweight, confident he could make the hydrated weight limit of 135 pounds. However, Musumeci failed both weight and hydration tests on Thursday, leading to a request for an openweight submission grappling contest against Oliveira.
The situation deteriorated further when Musumeci was hospitalized early Friday morning. In a statement, Musumeci revealed he was 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.”
ONE Championship emphasized that they did not pressure Musumeci to compete at flyweight on short notice, stating, “This is not something we pushed him to do on short-notice or would ever demand of a ONE athlete given how much we prioritize fighter safety.”
Leo Vieira, ONE’s vice president of grappling, provided additional context, confirming that Musumeci had requested the fight be moved to his flyweight division to defend his 135-pound title. Vieira also noted that after failing hydration tests, Musumeci requested an openweight bout with Oliveira.
While the exact cause of Musumeci’s lung injury remains unclear, some fans have speculated about the potential use of laxatives. When someone uses a laxative, it may cause intense straining during bowel movements. This straining, particularly if it’s severe or prolonged, can increase intra-abdominal and intrathoracic pressure, potentially leading to the rupture of small airways or alveoli in the lungs. This rupture can allow air to escape and travel into the mediastinum, resulting in pneumomediastinum.
In 2021, Teofimo Lopez was diagnosed with pneumomediastinum. Despite experiencing severe symptoms like shortness of breath and swelling, Lopez, attributing it to his asthma, chose not to disclose his condition before Kambosos event, fearing the bout would be canceled. Medical experts believe a small tear in his esophagus, worsened by his asthma and a prior infection, was the likely cause. If struck in the chest or neck, he could have suffered a collapsed lung and faced life-threatening consequences.
There are risks associated with weight cutting in combat sports, particularly when athletes attempt significant drops on short notice.
