Fresh off defending a controversial black belt promotion that sent ripples through the grappling world, Mikey Musumeci has now positioned himself as an online instructor to newly-crowned UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
In a breakdown video, Musumeci analyzed Chimaev’s dominant performance against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319, offering technical insights on how the Chechen wrestler could have finished the bout even faster. The timing couldn’t be more eyebrow-raising for the UFC BJJ figurehead, who recently found himself at the center of a firestorm over Derek Moneyberg‘s rapid ascension to black belt status.
“I feel weird telling the best in the world khamzat what he could have done but I really believe if he just added this move in the match could’ve been 1 minute!” Musumeci captioned his instructional post, demonstrating a triangle setup from the crucifix position that Chimaev utilized extensively during his title victory.
The technical breakdown focuses on capitalizing from side control crucifix positions, where Musumeci explains his preferred method of securing submissions. “When he was here, in this crucifix spot, the biggest thing for me is getting my bottom leg wedged under his shoulder,” he detailed in the video, walking through the mechanics of transitioning to a triangle choke.
Musumeci’s positioning as a technical advisor comes at a peculiar moment for the athlete, who has faced mounting criticism over his association with financial guru Derek Moneyberg. The controversy erupted when Jake Shields promoted Moneyberg to black belt in just 3.5 years, prompting fierce debate about traditional BJJ standards and the influence of financial resources on martial arts progression.
“Derek is a genius!! Super super intelligent and has the ability to grasp and learn things that would take regular people years,” Musumeci had declared in his passionate defense of the promotion, emphasizing Moneyberg’s access to elite daily instruction. “Derek has everyday one of the best people in the world ALL WORLD CHAMPIONS including Gordon Ryan and myself traveling to him and teaching him everyday.”
The defense drew sharp criticism from community members who questioned whether Musumeci’s judgment had been compromised by financial considerations. ADCC veteran Vinny Magalhaes suggested that monetary incentives had influenced the promotion’s integrity, while others called for competitive validation of Moneyberg’s abilities.
The timing of Musumeci’s Chimaev tutorial has not gone unnoticed by followers, who peppered the comments with pointed references to the Moneyberg situation. “Did moneyberg approve this message?” one user asked, while another inquired, “I’m pretty sure @derekmoneyberg with his genius iq taught you this move.”
Adding another layer to the situation, FloGrappling General Manager Ben Kovacs recently criticized the UFC’s choice of Musumeci as the face of their Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu venture. “Mikey is almost like the opposite of an MMA fans dream, right? He comes out, he scoots on his butt across the mat, he sticks one leg up in the air,” Kovacs observed. “It’s certainly the opposite sort from an MMA stylistic standpoint of what you would expect if you’re trying to convert that traditional UFC base over.”
Kovacs’ assessment highlights the disconnect between Musumeci’s guard-heavy style and the wrestling-dominant approach that proved so effective for Chimaev against Du Plessis. The newly-crowned champion’s victory relied heavily on takedowns, ground control, and positional dominance rather than the submission-oriented game that Musumeci typically demonstrates.
