Mikey Musumeci is set to face off against Shinya Aoki in an openweight submission grappling match during ONE Fight Night 15. Musumeci, the reigning ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion, known as “Darth Rigatoni,” will put his exceptional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills to the test against the legendary Japanese MMA figure Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki, who holds a considerable weight advantage.
Scheduled for Friday, October 6, on Prime Video, this clash is not just a contest of skills but also a challenge of size and strength for Musumeci within the realm of ONE Championship.
Renowned as one of the premier ground fighters worldwide, Musumeci boasts a flawless ONE record. His recent dominant victory over strawweight MMA champion Jarred Brooks at ONE Fight Night 13 has elevated his status. At just 27 years old, holding a BJJ black belt, he has showcased his prowess in three victories this year, each more spectacular than the last. Triumphing over Aoki would solidify his standing as a pound-for-pound great.
Aoki, however, is no ordinary MMA competitor. With a remarkable history of nearly 60 professional bouts and past recognition as the ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion, he stands as one of the most formidable submission specialists in the sport. His astounding tally of 30 victories via submission, including three in ONE World Title contests, attests to his exceptional ground skills.
Although Aoki is renowned for his MMA accomplishments, his proficiency in submission grappling is noteworthy. Having participated in the prestigious ADCC World Championships and even engaging in the inaugural submission grappling bout in ONE’s history, where he faced a loss against Garry Tonon in 2017, he has demonstrated his grappling prowess.
Given Aoki’s grappling expertise, extensive experience, and significant size advantage over the flyweight Musumeci, this match poses a distinct set of challenges for the latter. Nonetheless, Musumeci, also referred to as “Darth Rigatoni,” is determined to secure his third consecutive submission victory during prime time in the United States. His goal is to exhibit that his refined BJJ technique is effective against adept adversaries, regardless of their physical dimensions.
