'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Mikey Musumeci is feeling pretty good about himself as he closes in on the biggest grappling match of his career thus far.
Jumping up three weight classes, Musumeci will temporarily leave his post as the ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion to challenge Kade Ruotolo, the promotion's reigning lightweight submission grappling king, at ONE 168: Denver.
Emanating from Ball Arena in The Mile High City on Friday, September 6, it will be the first time that two of the greatest grapplers on the planet collide with 26 pounds of gold up for grabs.
If Mikey Musumeci wins, he will make history as the first-ever two-division submission grappling titleholder.
Trending
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Speaking with ONE Championship a few weeks out from their highly anticipated world title tilt, Mikey Musumeci revealed that he's feeling great about his ongoing camp, but admitted to having a little trouble with recovery.
“I don’t think I could be doing anything better than what I’m doing right now," Musumeci said. "I love it. The only thing that I’m struggling with is my recovery.”
Mikey Musumeci and Kade Ruotolo go into ONE 168: Denver with matching 7-0 records
Mikey Musumeci goes into ONE 168: Denver with a spotless record inside the Circle, securing seven-straight wins, victories against interim strawweight MMA world champion Jarred Brooks, former lightweight titleholder Shinya Aoki, and most recently, Gabriel Sousa.
Like his opponent, Kade Ruotolo also goes into ONE's return to the U.S. with a perfect 7-0 record. The 21-year-old BJJ wizard has earned noteworthy wins over Matheus Gabriel, Francisco Lo, and Tommy Langaker in back-to-back bouts.
His latest appearance inside the Circle came at ONE 167 where he made his successful mixed martial arts debut against American standout Blake Cooper. Ruotolo secured a first-round submission, setting the stage for what could be a successful run in not one, but two sports.
Who comes out on top when two of the world's greatest grapplers go toe-to-toe on martial arts' biggest global stage?
Follow this link for tickets for ONE 168: Denver on September 6 at Ball Arena.
