Mikey Musumeci’s Next Opponent: Here’s 3 Things Everybody Need to Know About Gantumur Bayanduuren

Mongolian grappler Gantumur Bayanduuren will make his ONE Championship debut in the biggest opportunity of his life at ONE Fight Night 6: Superbon vs. Allazov on Prime Video, this Friday, January 13. That evening, the grappling expert challenges Mikey Musumeci for his ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

The submission-only showdown will be Bayanduuren’s introduction to a global martial arts fanbase. Naturally, fans want to know more about the 26-year-old and what he brings to the table against arguably the world’s top pound-for-pound jiu-jitsu stylist. Before he makes the walk to the Circle, these are three things to know about the submission grappling title challenger.

#1 He’s A Combat Sambo World Champion 

Last year, Musumeci asked to face the world’s top sambo athlete in his division, and he’s getting his wish in Bayanduuren. 

In November 2022, the Mongolian won gold at the Combat Sambo World Championships, utilizing his tenacious wrestling, aggressive groundwork, and seemingly endless gas tank to establish himself as the planet’s top combat sambo competitor in his division. 

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Unlike sport sambo, combat sambo allows for striking as well as chokeholds while still maintaining the grappling focus of the Russian martial art.

#2 He’s A Brown Belt In BJJ 

 While Bayanduuren’s grappling base comes from sambo, he is nonetheless schooled in the champion’s specialty, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The Garuda MMA representative holds the rank of brown belt in BJJ, and that knowledge of the finer points of jiu-jitsu should come in handy against Musumeci and his extremely complex, elite guard game. 

 Unlike the other sambo athletes that competed in the Circle before him, Bayanduuren will come into this match with much more than just a working knowledge of BJJ and shouldn’t be surprised by the techniques “Darth Rigatoni” will employ against him.

#3 He’s An Experienced Pro MMA Fighter 

A martial artist in every sense of the word, the Mongolian standout has experience in the all-around sport of mixed martial arts. 

Sporting a 3-1 (1 NC) professional MMA record to go along with his impressive 28-3 combat sambo record, Bayanduuren will need to lean on the toughness, stamina, and impenetrable submission defense honed through high-level MMA training.

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Importantly, he is an active MMA fighter, most recently scoring a second-round TKO victory in August 2022.