Mikey Musumeci Vacates UFC BJJ Title to Chase MMA Career
The five-time IBJJF world champion is officially giving up his UFC BJJ bantamweight belt to focus on mixed martial arts.
Mikey Musumeci has officially vacated his UFC BJJ bantamweight championship to pursue a career in mixed martial arts, the decorated grappler announced on social media.
Musumeci, a five-time IBJJF black belt world champion and the first ever UFC BJJ bantamweight titleholder, posted on Instagram that he has decided to give up the belt to "prioritize" his transition to MMA. He won the inaugural title in June 2025 by heel-hooking Rerisson Gabriel and successfully defended it three times.
The 30-year-old New Jersey native previously competed for ONE Championship from 2022 to 2024 as their submission grappling champion before joining the UFC's grappling division. He is currently training at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, working daily private sessions under coach John Wood, per Next Fight.
Musumeci is targeting a debut at flyweight. He had initially aimed for a late-September fight that fell through, and now plans to make his MMA debut in the coming months. After his final UFC BJJ title defense against Bryce Mitchell, he told MMA Junkie he wanted to focus on MMA grappling opponents going forward.
No promotion has been confirmed for his MMA debut.
This is the right move for Musumeci, even if it makes the UFC BJJ division a little less interesting without its face. The guy has nothing left to prove on the mats. Five IBJJF world titles, a ONE belt, three title defenses in the UFC. What else do you do?
The flyweight division could use a grappler with his pedigree. If he can develop even basic striking and cage craft, that submission game is going to be a problem for a lot of 125-pounders. Training at Syndicate with John Wood is a solid foundation.
The question is where he ends up. The UFC would be the dream landing spot, but they have not confirmed anything. Wherever he signs, I am watching that debut closely.
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