“I Just Submitted Him Easy as F***” – Emotional Mikey Musumeci Sends a Message to Everyone Following Win Over Gabriel Sousa

Mikey Musumeci looked like a man on a mission in his last outing, and he was indeed bent on proving something. Last Friday, “Darth Rigatoni” avenged his last submission loss by tapping out Gabriel Sousa in their bantamweight submission grappling match at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Sousa got things started by taking down Musumeci, but he fell into the Evolve MMA and Cobrinha BJJ representative’s closed guard. There, the American grappler worked his magic, stringing multiple submission attempts before locking a calf slicer. 

Mikey Musumeci settles scores after beating Gabriel Sousa at ONE 167

The promotional newcomer was able to endure the hold and looked to mount his offense, but ultimately succumbed to the knee-destroying move. ONE commentator, Mitch Chilson, caught up with Musumeci in the middle of the circle to ask why he was so charged up even after the match. 

“I competed with Gabriel three or four years ago, and I lost that match,” Musumeci responded. “So this match is to show everyone that if you have an obstacle, you f***ing go to do it, and you overcome it!” 

The usually calm and collected Musumeci has been unusually fired up for his match with Sousa in interviews leading up to the event. Musumeci gave a little more clarity on why he was very much on the edge now that he has finally exacted revenge. 

“Every time I won in my division – because I went up and competed with him, and he’s a beast, he got second in ADCC, right? I respect him so much, but for four years, he commented on every freaking post I did – I’m not trying to curse – talking s*** – I just cursed again,” he narrated. “Then he did something personal to me. And when he did this personal thing involving family, that’s when I got angry, and that’s why I fought him today.” 

Mikey Musumeci vs Kade Ruotolo a clash of titans is next on the card

Back in 2021, Musumeci lost via submission to Sousa in a competition outside of ONE. It was the last time that the 27-year-old lost and got submitted to the competition. However, during his lengthy in-ring interview, he revealed that he wasn’t 100 percent in their initial encounter and proved with his latest performance just what he can do when fully healthy.

“Four years ago, I had COVID. The promoter forced me to do this event with COVID. And I didn’t complain about that, I didn’t say anything. I did it, I lost, and I’m back here now. But everyone talking crap like ‘oooh, you couldn’t beat him, there’s no way, he’s a division heavier than you,’ I just submitted him easy as f..k,” he said.  

With vengeance now his, he can now fully focus on his upcoming battle with Kade Ruotolo for the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship at ONE 168: Denver on September 6.