ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion Mikey Musumecisent ripples through the combat sports community with a fiery and expletive-laden victory speech after defeating Gabriel Sousa at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II.
The 27-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu star was seeking redemption against Sousa, who had submitted him with a north-south choke at Who’s Number One in 2021. Musumeci made it clear that this rematch was personal, and he was determined to overcome the obstacle that had haunted him for four years.
Gabriel Sousa & Mikey Musumeci are rematching Friday in ONE Championship
I decided to take a closer look at their first match to see how Sousa submitted Mikey pic.twitter.com/fFIg9JgrPn
— William – Open Note Grappling 🗒️ (@OpenNoteGrapple) June 5, 2024
In his post-match interview, Musumeci did not hold back, saying, “I competed with Gabriel like three or four years ago, and I lost this match, right? So this match was to show everyone that when you have an obstacle, you go and do it, and you overcome it.” He then directed his attention to Sousa, stating, “My opponent talked a lot about me for about four years. I respect him so much, but for four years, he commented on every freaking post I did.”
Musumeci’s anger was palpable as he recalled Sousa’s personal attacks, including a particularly hurtful comment involving his family. “Then he did something very personal to me. And when he did this personal involving family, that’s when I got angry,” Musumeci said, his emotions still raw.
When asked about his approach to the match, Musumeci was unapologetic, saying, “I just submitted him easy as.” His confidence and aggression in the octagon were mirrored in his post-fight interview, where he declared, “We’ll see if I f**k him up.”
Musumeci’s victory speech quickly went viral, with fans and critics alike praising his passion and honesty. The American grappler’s performance was a testament to his dedication and perseverance, and his words served as a reminder that, in the world of mixed martial arts, sometimes it’s not just about winning, but also about settling scores.
Sousa’s girlfriend Ffion Davies had an interesting reaction to this development.
Musumeci also had a another interesting reaction to the event.
ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut II, which took place at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, was broadcast live on Prime Video, with fans in the United States and Canada able to watch for free with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
The event marked a significant victory for Musumeci, who solidified his position as the undisputed ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion.
In the end, Musumeci’s unapologetic victory speech may have raised eyebrows, but it also showcased his unwavering commitment to his craft and his unrelenting desire for redemption.
