“Why did you make me do this” - Mikey Musumeci admits getting angry at Gantumur Bayanduuren after Bangkok matchup

He may be one of the most wholesome fighters in combat sports, but Mikey Musumeci does have episodes where anger gets the better of him.

The reigning ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion is accustomed to seeing his opponents submit once trapped in an inescapable hold, but one of his most memorable matches in ONE Championship actually needed the judges' scorecards.

Musumeci was defending his world title for the second time when he got matched up with Mongolian grappler Gantumur Bayanduuren at ONE Fight Night 6 in Bangkok.

For almost the entire 10-minute match, Musumeci was cranking at Bayanduuren's left leg.

The American superstar was already expecting Bayanduuren to submit after he heard multiple pops, but the Mongolian star fought through the immense pain to eventually lose by unanimous decision.

In an interview with ONE Championship, Musumeci admitted he got angry at Bayanduuren for toughing it and suffering multiple injuries instead of just tapping out.

"I was kind of angry at him because I was like 'Why did you make me do this?' I think that showed how dangerous it could be," said Mikey Musumeci.

ONE Championship later revealed in a statement that Bayanduuren suffered multiple torn ligaments in his left knee, with surgeons tasked with the surgery describing the injuries as akin to a motorcycle accident.

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Mikey Musumeci says he's entered a new level under 'Cobrinha' Charles' tutelage

Mikey Musumeci will enter unchartered territory when he makes his way to the Circle in his next match at ONE Championship.

He won't, however, enter the lightweight division without much-needed help.

The reigning ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion will move three weight classes up when he challenges Kade Ruotolo for the ONE lightweight submission grappling world title at ONE 168: Denver.

Ahead of his September 6 duel against Ruotolo at Ball Arena, Musumeci enlisted the guidance of grappling legend Rubens 'Cobrinha' Charles and 'Darth Rigatoni' said he reached a new level through the help of the 12-time BJJ world champion.

Musumeci told ONE Championship in an interview:

"[In training] then all of a sudden, I'll make an adjustment, then it's working again. Then Kennedy stops it again. So then we just do this over and over, it makes our level, like, another level. So it makes us develop things that I feel years ahead of what other people are doing right now."

Tickets for ONE 168 are available at Ticketmaster.