Musumeci is no longer a ONE grappling champion after the promotion switched his Denver fight from 170 pounds to 135 pounds on less than a week’s notice.
What is going on with ONE Championship these days?
The promotion has been dogged by accusations that they are benching half their roster amidst financial issues. Even their champions can’t seem to get fights. Their Muay Thai and Submission grappling divisions are still hot, but there’s signs of disorganization there as well after they stripped their flyweight grappling champ Mikey Musumeci under dubious circumstances.
The five time IBJJF World Champion Musumeci was set to move up in weight and grapple lightweight grappling champion Kade Ruotolo at this weekend’s ONE 168 card in Denver, Colorado. Unfortunately Ruotolo withdrew on September 1st with an injury. In his place, ONE booked Bebeto Oliveira to challenge Musumeci for his flyweight title. That left “Darth Rigatoni” with just five days to cut down to 135 pounds after spending months preparing for a 170 pound match.
As you’d expect, things didn’t go so well at the ONE Denver weigh-ins. Musumeci missed weight and was stripped of his title. A catchweight is being discussed where Oliveira is the only one who can win the belt.
Mikey Musumeci fails to make the weight and hydration to defend the ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Championship at ONE 168: Denver. A catchweight bout versus Bebeto Oliviera is now being negotiated.
Because Bebeto passed weight and hydration, he is still eligible to… pic.twitter.com/0kyzJZbRhN
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) September 5, 2024
“Probably one of the worst days of my life in jiu jitsu,” Musumeci wrote on Instagram of the situation. “I wanted so bad to compete in ONE 168 in Denver, I felt horrible to the fans that were coming to see me and I felt I was letting them down. I tried to make the championship 135 lb weight in about 72 hours but it was too much on short notice after preparing for the Kade match. My body and hydration shut down when I got to 136 earlier today.”
“Today I lost my belt, today I let down the fans and i want to apologize to my opponent Bebeto, someone I respect greatly, not being able to make the weight. I’m so sorry to everyone I gave it my all. But God has everything happen for a reason. I’m so sorry again everyone.”
In what world is it fair for a promoter to ask their fighter to defend their belt 35 pounds down from the weight class they were preparing for — on five days notice? And then strip them without any consideration for the circumstances they themselves created? It makes you wonder if there’s more to this behind the scenes.
It’s yet another shady move from a promotion that is showing little care or concern for the fighters signed with them.