Mikey Musumeci warns that people will be mad about UFC’s grand plans to take over BJJ.
The UFC has recently signed Mikey Musumeci to a landmark contract as their first ever exclusive Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) athlete. Dana White called it the “first of many” deals to be signed with other grapplers.
Musumeci will make his debut at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9 (UFC FPI 9), but he reveals that the promotion has far bigger plans outside of just running these FPI events.
“I feel like (UFC is) finally another platform that could expand our sport to people that wouldn’t typically watch jiu-jitsu,” Musumeci said on the Ariel Helwani Show.
“For now, we’re just doing the Fight Pass Invitationals,” he said. “UFC has very big plans for grappling. I don’t think I’m allowed to talk about them yet. Just know that there’s very big plans for grappling coming from the UFC.”
New UFC ‘grappling league’ will ‘take over jiu-jitsu like they have MMA’
While Musumeci initially tried to be tight lipped about their plans, the BJJ star eventually revealed that the UFC is starting a new “grappling league” that could upset a lot of people in the industry.
“(They’re going to sign) everyone! They’re trying to take over jiu-jitsu like they have MMA. They’re going to do exactly what they did for MMA. They’re going to have a grappling league,” Musumeci said. “We’re just going to grow the sport even more than it has been rapidly growing.
“All I can say it’s the best deal I have ever had in my life,” he said about his UFC contract. “It’s incredible. They’re really treating me well. That’s why I’m so grateful to them and for what they’re going to do for jiu-jitsu. If I’m getting a deal like this, I know many future generations can.
“I just need to freaking keep staying strong, while there’s a lot of people that are going to be mad at me for changing what the sport is now — with all these random tournaments and all these shady promoters, and all these things that promote steroids,” he said. “I want this all gone. I want to make this one platform for all of us.”
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With Musumeci calling it the best deal he’s ever had, it likely means UFC eclipses his previous payouts with ONE Championship, WNO, and other BJJ orgs. That bar isn’t very high though, as outside of the rare outliers, grappling deals typically don’t pay as well as other sports.
The recent IBJJF Crown had their “record high” prizes of $20,000 for each tournament winner. ADCC was also criticized for previously not giving “show money,” and only paying $10,000 to the division winners, and $40,000 to the absolute champion. Those are two of the most prestigious orgs, and other BJJ promotions pay even less.
This general low pay also makes it an easier and smart investment for the UFC to swoop in and “take over” another rapidly growing industry, without really breaking the bank.
Musumeci wants ‘shady promoters’ and ‘steroids’ gone from BJJ
He declined to reveal names, but Musumeci went off on “shady promoters” in jiu-jitsu. He also believes the UFC model with a sole organization dominating the industry could solve things.
“There’s a lot of shady promoters that do a lot of messed up things behind the scenes, and being in it for so many years, you get really burned out from it,” he said. “It doesn’t feel legitimate or professional. You make money here and there, a random shady arms dealer might promote an event and they have money… then all of a sudden it disappears, then another one comes.
“We need to to become a sport like MLB, NBA, NFL, where we have a legitimate organization with money that we don’t have the question: are they going to have money a year from now?”
When mentioning issues with money and “shady promoters,” it’s a bit unclear who Musumeci was referring to. After all, just like every branch of combat sports, there are controversial figures and practices involved in jiu-jitsu as well.
IBJJF and FloGrappling are big players that have been criticized for pay and other issues. ONE Championship has had various controversies and questionable finances. ADCC, ADXC and AJP all get money from controversial Abu Dhabi royals. Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) has “anonymous donors” funding their $1 million tournaments. Many other pro leagues also pop in and out with undisclosed backing.
For what it’s worth, Musumeci said he previously wanted to compete in CJI to “help Craig (Jones) and his event,” before taking shots at ADCC.
“CJI, I don’t know exactly. If I’m doing it for charity to help some cause, maybe I would like to push UFC to let me do it,” Musumeci said. “Will I do CJI? I don’t know exactly, but ADCC I don’t really like what it stands for at the moment with the steroids and all these different things. I just want one professional organization for everyone to have.
“…(UFC is) another platform that will eventually have drug testing as well. It’s another platform that could make our sport more professional, instead of all these steroids, all these craziness.”
With UFC’s new grappling league still not live, Musumeci will instead debut first at UFC FPI 9 against Felipe Machado.