Learn from the best, and be the best. This isn’t just a philosophy in life. It translates well to other avenues, even combat sports cultures. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stalwart Mikey Musumeci proved that recently after his win over Gabriel Sousa at ONE 167. In the aftermath, he doused a humble celebratory gesture that UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov made famous in combat sports.
The reigning ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champ had locked on to tormentor Gabriel Sousa. He even moved up to bantamweight marks with his sights on redemption. BJJ Featherweight fame Sousa provided him with a fateful loss in 2021 that remains a big blemish. Mikey Musumeci later signed on to ONE in 2022 as an illustrious Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.
His five IBJJF World Championships in gi and no-gi and numerous accolades only capped his fame. He even summed a stout 6-0 record in the meantime. But Sousa remained a problem he had to deal with. They met at ONE Championship167 on Prime Video, live from the Impact Arena in Bangkok; Musumeci won. Check out his celebratory gesture that followed.
Khabib Nurmagomedov made the gesture famous. ‘The Eagle’ would always gesture to praise the Almighty after a win rather than himself. ‘Darth Rigatoni’ went on an offensive with a calf slicer and submitted the opponent with a signature slicer submission rather vividly. Yet, given this could have been a grudge fallout, he credited it to God. He accordingly went viral for the celebration.
Fight fans react to Mikey Musumeci’s rare submission and post-fight celebration
ONE Championship’s Inaugural Flyweight submissions grappling champion had quite the assignment ahead of him. Musumeci had said he wanted to face the ADCC and IBJJF world veteran in a sitdown with the South China Morning Post. The dream submissions grappling matchup meant more to him as Gabriel Sousa made waves with a victory over him.
Mikey Musumeci def. Gabriel Sousa; submission grappling – bantamweight (Source: Instagram/agfight.com)He submitted the opponent with a rare calf slicer submission. Instead of gloating, he went on his knees to console the opponent. Concurrently, he also shot up his hand in the air, praising the Almighty instead of attributing the win to himself. Here’s how the MMA community has reacted:
Seen him going to mosque with Khabibs crew a few times. No surprises here. Brother is sincere, letting go of the nafs.
— 🇵🇸Ubaidullah Tayyib🇿🇦🐈 (@3rd_worldcrypto) June 8, 2024
I was today years old when I knew Musemeci is Durinho’s student
— Statingtheobvious (@yeahbedo) June 8, 2024
that was a nasty submission done by a man with innocent face.
— Valri (@valriunchained) June 8, 2024
How is there someone more innocent looking than wonderboy but also a killer lmao
— Shaun (@SHQ22II) June 8, 2024
No one can hate on Mikey.. so clean
— Chaos (@chaosandf) June 8, 2024
Damn he is the champion for sure
— the juan (@reid_96x) June 8, 2024
Brilliant calf slicer. And the best post fight interview in One history 😆
— Case Bruman (@DukeBruman) June 8, 2024
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s signature gesture came with a tinge of bold regalia, given that he was undefeated. The 27-year-old is coming off a handsome scrap and clean win over Shinya Aoki in an October 2023 openweight clash. Mikey Musumeci has been on a similar tear since joining ONE after his skid to the Fortaleza native.
‘Darth Rigatoni’ has already proven he can go the distance when need be. His scuffles with the streamer Sneako are famous. Defeating Sousa was a similar urgency. However, fans have lauded his spirit of sportsmanship. Comparisons have also been drawn to Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson’s karate prowess despite not looking the part. All in all, the matter turned quite some heads.
