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Mikey Musumeci Declares War on PEDs in Jiu-Jitsu: “Time for Real Professionalism”

Mikey Musumeci Declares War on PEDs in Jiu-Jitsu: "Time for Real Professionalism” Mikey Musumeci is declaring war on the rampant use of PEDs in BJJ. After establishing himself as one of…

Mikey Musumeci is declaring war on the rampant use of PEDs in BJJ.

After establishing himself as one of the best submission grapplers in the world under the ONE Championship banner, ‘Darth Rigatoni’ ditched the Singapore-based promotion to sign with the UFC. It was a big moment for the jiu-jitsu community as Musumeci became the first grappler to ink an exclusive deal with Dana White and Co.

Now, Musumeci is making it his duty to clean up the sport he loves so dearly.

“I feel like what I’m doing right now is definitely the most important thing for grappling in terms of having a stable platform,” Musumeci said on Wednesday during UFC 310 media day. “I feel like a lot of jiu-jitsu right now is very unstable. There’s a lot of horrible ethics, morals, and I hope now that with the UFC we can change that and make it a professional sport.

“Because it hasn’t been a professional sport, jiu-jitsu, with people they blatantly use [performance enhancing drugs]. They’re not athletes. They really don’t have the values of martial artists. I really just want to change that and give us this platform at UFC and become professionals” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Musumeci refrained from naming names but hopes that he can help the UFC grow the sport of BJJ and bring in other athletes who make it a priority to compete clean and avoid the very long list of practitioners who try to take chemically-induced shortcuts.

“People not on steroids,” Musumeci said emphatically when asked who the UFC should look to sign. “That’s pretty much what I would say but 99 percent of jiu-jitsu is on steroids. So at least them get off steroids a little bit, like a few months. They probably need like a year, six months to adjust and then maybe they could adjust with Darwinism.”

Mikey Musumeci sees signing with the UFC as his first step toward making BJJ great

Aside from trying to extinguish more of the seedy elements in the sport, Musumeci has a lot of personal goals he hopes to accomplish, including a potential transition to mixed martial arts.

Of course, the New Jersey native has a lot left to accomplish in jiu-jitsu, but Musumeci recognizes that signing with the UFC is a big first step towards meeting those goals.

“They want to make this professional also,” Musumeci said. “UFC’s a professional company. The way we’ve been in jiu-jitsu, we’ve been amateurs. We really are just in this barbaric amateur phase of jiu-jitsu. Now UFC is starting something professional. I’m so blessed for them for putting the effort into jiu-jitsu to change it. I’m so eager for them to do that.”

Mikey Musumeci Explains Why he Left ONE for the UFC: “We don’t have to question if they’ll have money a year from now.”

Darth Rigatoni’ Mikey Musumeci was a fan favorite in ONE Championship and a reigning titleholder in their submission grappling…

Darth Rigatoni’ Mikey Musumeci was a fan favorite in ONE Championship and a reigning titleholder in their submission grappling division. The American-Italian grappler walked away from ONE and signed with the UFC.

Mikey Musumeci

It is an interesting signing as Mikey Musumeci does not currently compete in MMA, but the UFC also does not have a submission grappling division. Thus, it may be an indication for the future that the UFC is looking at expanding into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions.

Musumeci was scheduled to face fellow grappler Kade Ruotolo in a BJJ match but Ruotolo suffered an injury and had to withdraw. ‘Darth Rigatoni’ was then rebooked but at a much lower weight and was forced to cut nearly 30 pounds in just a few days which led to illness. He was unable to make weight and was hospitalized. To add insult to injury, Mikey Musumeci was also stripped of his title due to this incident.

Mikey Musumeci Leaving ONE Championship

Recent news has come out that Mikey Musumeci left ONE Championship and has signed with the UFC. He will be competing at the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9 grappling event on December 5 against Felipe Machado. The event will be hosted at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Speaking in an interview with Ariel Helwani, Mikey Musumeci explained why he left ONE. He said:

“My contract was coming to an end, basically. I just wanted to be back home in the U.S. Again, I love ONE Championship, but I was there because of my relationship with Chatri. He was like a parent to me. He was probably my closest friend for a few years, and that’s why I moved to Asia. Then I decided I wanted to be back in the U.S., close to my family. The UFC is 10 to 15 minutes from my house, so it’s a no-brainer for me, especially being American. I also feel the UFC can bring a lot to grappling. It’s finally another platform that can expand our sport to people who wouldn’t typically watch jiu-jitsu.

“It’s a platform that will eventually have drug testing, a platform that can make our sport professional. Right now, there’s too much with steroids and craziness. I just want a legitimate, professional platform for athletes. For kids growing up, they can dream of being professional jiu-jitsu athletes without thinking about switching careers. The most fulfillment I can have as a person is setting that path for the next generation.

“I have no hard feelings toward ONE. How could I? They helped me grow so much as a person. I’m full of gratitude for Chatri. We were like a dysfunctional family sometimes—disagreements, fights—but at the end of the day, I’m grateful for everything he’s done for me. I’d never speak badly about him.”

On Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu promoters as a whole, he added:

“Of course. I’ll just say broadly—there’s a lot of shadiness and shady promoters who do messed-up things behind the scenes.

“Being in it for so many years, you get burnt out. It doesn’t feel legitimate or professional. You make money here and there, but then a shady arms dealer promotes an event, and suddenly they have money. You make money once, and then it disappears. Is this what we want for the next generation? No. We need a legitimate organization, like MLB, NBA, or NFL, where we don’t have to question if they’ll have money a year from now.“

Mikey Musumeci Explains UFC Signing

A BJJ athlete has never signed a contract with the UFC just to do submission grappling, but Mikey Musumeci has done exactly that. Being friends and meeting Hunter Campbell at the UFC Performance Institute helped this expansion. On why this happened, he explained:

“During that time, I trained in Vegas and was at UFC PI a lot. I met Hunter there; we became good friends, and that’s how the relationship started … They’re trying to take over jiu-jitsu like they did MMA. Their goal is to grow the sport exponentially—grappling leagues, everything.“

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace ‘Darth Rigatoni’ Mikey Musumeci may be the start of the UFC’s expansion into the submission grappling world.

Who Is Joaquim Valente? Gisele Bündchen’s New Boyfriend, Jiu-Jitsu Instructor, and Soon-to-Be Dad

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen is expecting her first child with boyfriend Joaquim Valente, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. This news…

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen is expecting her first child with boyfriend Joaquim Valente, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. This news comes two years after her divorce from Tom Brady, with who Bu?ndchen has two children.

Gisele Bündchen Pregnant

The couple’s relationship began as a friendship when Bündchen enrolled her son in Valente’s jiu-jitsu academy in Miami. Their bond grew over time, especially after her split from Brady in October 2022. They officially started dating in June 2023, though they were seen together earlier.

The pregnancy news was shared with Brady and their children before it became public. Sources close to the couple report that they are excited about this new chapter and aim to create a loving environment for their family.

As for Brady’s reaction, he has not publicly commented on the news. However, he posted a cryptic Instagram message with a sunset photo and a song lyric about love, which some interpret as a response to the situation.

Who is Gisele Bündchen Boyfriend?

Joaquim Valente is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor based in Miami. He co-founded the Valente Brothers Academy with his siblings, continuing a 65-year family legacy in the sport. While his exact net worth is not public, estimates range from $1 million to $5 million.

He began training in jiu-jitsu at a very young age, earning his black belt and Professor’ Diploma from the legendary Grandmaster Hélio Gracie in 2007.

The couple’s relationship sparked rumors in 2022 when they were seen together on trips, but Gisele initially denied the dating speculation. Friends close to her confirmed they started as friends before becoming romantically involved.

Joaquim Valente boyfriend httpspeople.comgisele bundchen celebrates jiu jitsu purple belt 8410417

Gisele Bündchen Brazilain Jiu-Jitsu

Bündchen has been open about her journey into jiu-jitsu, crediting it with personal growth and empowerment. She began training with Valente in December 2021 and has since progressed to a purple belt. Gisele shared how jiu-jitsu resonates with her personal beliefs and has become a path for self-improvement. She emphasized the sport’s mental and emotional benefits, particularly for women.

In addition to her jiu-jitsu journey, Gisele recently released a cookbook titled Nourish, featuring simple, nutritious recipes for families. She prioritizes healthy meals for her children, focusing on fruits, vegetables, and proteins.

Gisele Bündchen was discovered at the age of 14 in a shopping mall and quickly rose to fame in the late 1990s, becoming one of the highest-paid models globally. Bündchen is best known for her work with Victoria’s Secret, where she was a prominent Angel from 2000 to 2007. Over her career, she has graced over 1,200 magazine covers and has been involved with numerous high-profile brands.

Craig Jones kisses Gabi Garcia during CJI weigh-Ins faceoff: ‘You crossed the line’

Australian grappler, Craig Jones has confirmed his intergender grappling match against veteran Brazilian submission ace, Gabi Garcia is off…

Australian grappler, Craig Jones has confirmed his intergender grappling match against veteran Brazilian submission ace, Gabi Garcia is off ahead of tomorrow’s invitational event – after the former controversially kissed her during yesterday’s face-off.

Jones, a dominant grappling star, will go head-to-head with the ADCC World Championships tomorrow, as he hosts the Craig Jones Invitational grappling event – with two division winners landing themselves whopping $1,000,000 grand prizes for their respective successes.

Craig Jones kisses Gabi Garcia during CGI face-off

As for Garcia, the 38-year-old Porto Alegre grappling veteran was supposed to face off with Adelaide native, Jones in an intergender grappling super fight at the invitational event across the weekend, however, following a controversial moment at yesterday’s staredown, in which Jones forcibly kissed the Brazilian – the bout was cancelled according to Jones.

Reacting to Jones’ controversial stunt, Garcia claimed the Australian grappler had “crossed the line” with his actions – before the outspoken Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu star appeared to reveal how their super fight match was now officially off.

“Fights cancelled,” Craig Jones said of the matchup. “I guess Brazilians can’t take a joke.”

A four-time ADCC world championship gold medal winner, Garcia has also competed in professional mixed martial arts competition – as recently as 2018.

Taking on Barbara Nepomuceno at Rizin 14 in Japan, Garcia turned in an impressive opening round keylock submission win to improve her unbeaten professional record to seven straight fights.

Video – Dog tries to save his owner at jiu-jitsu competition: ‘Everyone started clapping’

A BJJ competitor’s dog was booted from a jiu-jitsu event after taking the mat to protect his owner. In…

A BJJ competitor’s dog was booted from a jiu-jitsu event after taking the mat to protect his owner.

In an undeniably adorable moment, an unidentified man was in the middle of a BJJ match during a tournament when his pet attempted to intervene. The incident occurred when the dog’s owner was on his back with his opponent in full guard. Out of nowhere, the dog comes casually trotting onto the mat and proceeds to lay over top of his owner.

Francisca Silueta caught the moment on video from the stands.

The referee immediately had to step in and lift the dog off the competitor before carrying the canine off of the competition floor.

The incident occurred during the Campeonato Nacional Open held by the Liga Chilena de Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the city of Valparaíso.

Dog saves owner at jiu-jitsu competition

Fans were delighted by the dog’s interference at the jiu-jitsu event

The crowd enthusiastically applauded the dog’s actions, not knowing who he was but admiring his attempts to break up the fight.

“Suddenly, all the eyes were staring at this dog, and all the competitors had to stop. Everybody started clapping,” Silueta later told The Dodo of what happened at the competition. “It was like the dog had won first place.” (h/t reshareworthy.com).

A decade later, UFC icon Conor McGregor checks off another goal from his MMA bucket list

Irish megastar Conor McGregor has taken one more step toward fulfilling the goal he had set for himself nearly a decade ago. Making his UFC debut in 2013, McGregor took the mixed martial arts world by storm with his brash attitude and the ability to back it up inside the Octagon. Landing a spot on […]

Irish megastar Conor McGregor has taken one more step toward fulfilling the goal he had set for himself nearly a decade ago.

Making his UFC debut in 2013, McGregor took the mixed martial arts world by storm with his brash attitude and the ability to back it up inside the Octagon. Landing a spot on the roster during the infamous Fuel TV days, ‘The Notorious’ ran through the competition, earning wins over some pretty impressive names including Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, and Chad Mendes en route to his first shot at UFC gold.

Stepping into the main event at UFC 194, Conor McGregor shocked the world, scoring a 13-second knockout against Jose Aldo to capture the featherweight world title. Overnight, McGregor went from standout to superstar and took one giant step toward achieving a series of goals he had set for himself years prior.

Upon entering the promotion, Conor McGregor made a pretty ambitious bucket list. “I just want two gold belts, a jiu-jitsu black belt, a hall of fame plaque and 25 million in the bank,” McGregor wrote on Twitter. “Is that too much to ask?”

A decade later, Conor McGregor is a former two-division world, having claimed the lightweight title from ex-champion Eddie Alvarez less than a year after his highlight-reel-worthy knockout against Jose Aldo.

Recently, McGregor checked another achievement off his last, revealing that he had received his BJJ black belt after 20 years in the sport.

“Received my black belt tonight from my coach, friend, and mentor, @coach_kavanagh of @sbgireland! 20 years of hard work,” McGregor wrote on Instagram. Thank you, John, for everything over the years, and to all of my teammates throughout this incredible jiu jitsu journey! Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart! A Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt, wow! Praise be to God and then Helio. I’ll be in the Gi in it tomorrow Helio, I promise, and I cannot wait!!”

Conor McGregor Just Needs His Hall of Fame Plaque

With two UFC world titles on his resume, a BJJ black belt, and a net worth estimated to be over $200 million, Conor McGregor only has one task left for his original tweet to come full circle. He just needs that UFC Hall of Fame plaque.

It’s safe to say that once the Irishman hangs up his gloves for good, he will undoubtedly be a first-ballot HOF’er. Until then, McGregor still has plenty of unfinished business in the sport and has every intention of coming back and padding his legacy a little more.