Diego Pato, one of the most respected names in Brazilian jiu-jitsu today, sat down for an exclusive interview with journalist Vitor Freitas of VF Comunica, and dropped a statement that’s already making waves among fans of the sport: he’s ready to compete in any professional event on the current grappling scene, and he named exactly who he’d like to face again — Mikey Musumeci.
“I can fight in any event,” Pato said during the conversation, making clear he sees no limitations when it comes to taking on challenges, whether in traditional sport jiu-jitsu or in higher-profile grappling competitions.
A RIVALRY THAT’S ALREADY HAPPENED ONCE
The history between Pato and Mikey Musumeci is nothing new to those who follow BJJ closely. The two athletes previously met in a gi match at the 2020 European Championship, a bout that ended in Musumeci’s favor. Years later, however, the landscape has shifted considerably for both men.
Musumeci has cemented himself as one of the sport’s biggest names over the last decade, now reigning as the current UFC BJJ champion — a promotion that has been gaining serious traction within the world’s largest combat sports stage by leaning into no-gi jiu-jitsu. On the other side, Diego Pato has built a decorated career as a five-time gi World Champion, and currently holds the WNO (Who’s Number One) belt, one of the premier no-gi grappling titles in the sport today.
TWO OF THE MOST FEARED LEGLOCKERS IN THE GAME
One of the factors fueling interest in a potential rematch is the technical specialization both men have developed throughout their careers. Pato and Musumeci are widely recognized as two of the top leg-attack specialists in the world today, with proven results in both gi and no-gi competition — a track record that underscores just how evenly matched a new encounter would be.
A RIVALRY WITH HUGE UPSIDE FOR THE SPORT
Rivalries built over time tend to be one of the biggest growth drivers in any combat sport, and a new Pato-Musumeci matchup would check every box that usually fuels that kind of narrative: recent history between the two, a technically open outcome, and relevance across both major formats of the sport — gi and no-gi.
As of now, there’s no official confirmation of a new fight between the two athletes. Diego Pato’s comments, however, have reignited public interest in a potential chapter two of this rivalry.
