In a highly anticipated rematch, reigning ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion Mikey Musumeci proved his mettle by submitting Gabriel Sousa via calf slicer at ONE 167, held at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. This victory marked a milestone for Musumeci, as he avenged his previous loss to Sousa under the Who’s Number One banner nearly three years ago.
The match began with both grapplers showcasing their aggressive sides, with Sousa immediately taking the match to the ground. Sousa dragged Musumeci to the cage wall, but the latter swiftly countered by snatching Sousa’s left leg. As Sousa attempted to defend, Musumeci cleverly caught him in a calf slicer position. In a desperate attempt to escape, Sousa laid back, grabbing Musumeci’s foot and fishing for a toe hold, but he was in a poor position to finish the maneuver.
Sousa eventually let go of the hold, and Musumeci capitalized on the opportunity, cinching in the calf slicer he had been holding onto. This forced Sousa to tap out just past the three-minute mark of the match.
The win marked Musumeci’s seventh victory under the ONE Championship banner, maintaining his undefeated record in the organization. Moreover, he earned a $50,000 bonus from ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong, a testament to his exceptional grappling skills.
In his post-fight interview with Mitch Chilson, Musumeci expressed gratitude for the bonus but emphasized that his primary motivation was redemption, not financial gain. He aimed to silence his critics, who doubted his ability to defeat a grappler from a higher weight class.
Looking ahead, Musumeci will face Kade Ruotolo in a highly anticipated submission grappling match at ONE 168 on September 6, to be held in Denver, Colorado. This upcoming bout promises to be another thrilling contest, as Musumeci continues to defend his title and cement his reputation as a grappling legend.
The final scorecard read: Mikey Musumeci defeated Gabriel Sousa via submission (calf slicer) at 3:07 (submission grappling – bantamweight).
Let’s go Mikey Musumeci! pic.twitter.com/vV4ffedXO6
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) June 8, 2024
