Mikey Musumeci likens his grappling style to a Muay Thai fighter: “It’s the perfect strategy”

ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion Mikey Musumeci has been around several Muay Thai greats since joining the Singapore-based promotion last year.

So much so, that ‘Darth Rigatoni’ has grown fond of “The Art of Eight Limbs” and now even applies some of its philosophies in his intricate submission grappling style.

In a recent interview with Jiu-Jitsu Times, Musumeci talked about one of Muay Thai’s fundamentals of breaking down an opponent’s lower half of the body. Once those shots take their toll and the opponent is in a weakened state, that’s when feared Muay Thai strikers go for the kill.

While the 26-year-old savant only competes in grappling-exclusive matches, he now operates the same way in his own sport:

“I kind of see my style now more like a Muay Thai fighter. Once you break the person’s legs down, it’s easier to start knocking the person out. So, that’s how I see my style now, and I think it was the perfect strategy.”

By the looks of it, it appears that ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon has completely rubbed off on Musumeci, given their tight bond as of late.

While the Evolve MMA standout does not throw any strike whatsoever, he does love to entangle his challengers’ limbs and put them on the defensive with his relentless leg attacks.

We’ve seen just how frightening the mild-mannered Musumeci can be when he wrecked Gantumur Bayanduuren’s leg using his ridiculously terrifying arsenal of every leg lock imaginable.

Musumeci did the same in his second world title defense at ONE Fight Night 10 earlier this month, leaving the usually aggressive Osamah Almarwai no room to impose his own offense.

After his assault on ‘Osa’s legs for most of the bout, ‘Darth Rigatoni’ finished him with a rear-naked choke.

Check out Mikey Musumeci’s Muay Thai-like approach to grappling by watching the replay of ONE Fight Night 10. The entire card is available for free for Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.