Mikey Musumeci submits Gabriel Sousa, unloads emotional post-match speech
Mikey Musumeci submitted former foe Gabriel Sousa at ONE 167 and gave an impassioned post-match interview.
After three years of waiting, Mikey Musumeci finally earned redemption against the last man to defeat him.
On Friday, June 7, at ONE 167, the New Jersey native needed just over three minutes to submit ADCC silver medalist Gabriel Sousa with a calf slicer.
Sousa scored a quick takedown early in the bout, but once the match hit the canvas, the American was comfortably in the driver’s seat. Musumeci attacked an armbar from his closed guard before using the k-guard to enter into a deep leg entanglement. Sousa attempted to spin out, but Musumeci kept ahold of his opponent’s leg with an ankle lock grip, trapping Sousa in a calf slicer when he turned his back.
Sousa would fight off the submission for about a minute, but ultimately, Musumeci was able to secure the tap at 3:07 into the match.
With the win, Musumeci extends his winning streak to 15 and avenges his 2021 submission loss to Sousa at Who’s Number One. He is slated to compete next this September at ONE 168: Denver, where he will move up in weight to challenge Kade Ruotolo for his ONE lightweight (170 pounds) submission grappling world title.
After the victory, Musumeci opened up in an uncharacteristically uncouth interview.
Notably, he alleges that Sousa disrespected him and did something personal.
Additionally, Musumeci says that he had COVID-19 when the two clashed in 2021, but Who’s Number One forced him to compete.
Finally, Musumeci also says that he was scheduled to face reigning ADCC champion Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis in ONE, but Reis declined the match to avoid drug testing.
This match was to show everyone that when you have an obstacle you f****** go to do it and you overcome it.
“My opponent talked a lot of crap about me for about four years… For four years he commented on every freaking post I did… talking s***. Then he did something very personal to me, and when he did this personal, involving family, that’s when I got angry and that’s why I fougth him today. He disrespected me personally.
“And then I showed you guys that four years ago I had COVID. The promoter forced me to do the event with COVID. And I didn’t compalin, I didn’t say anything. I did it, I lost. And I’m back here now. But everyone talking crap, ‘Oh you can’t beat him, there’s no way, he’s a division heavier than you.’ I just submitted him easy as f***!
“It was about avenging a loss and shutting up the media. I just do my own thing, I mind my own business, I’m nice to everyone and people keep talking crap about me all the time. This guy talked so much freaking crap, guys, that’s why I have this energy…
“I was supposed to have a match with the ADCC champion, Baby Shark. Then he wouldn’t do it bc of the drug test. And I told him, fuck it, take your steroids and fight me. And he still wouldn’t do it, he did Who’s Number One instead. So then I fought the second best ADCC champion. All these guys are the same, they just talk s***, but then when it comes to do it, they don’t even come here.”
