Claudia Gadelha backs Mikey Musumeci in MMA: “I think he can make it to the UFC”
The UFC BJJ president talked about the American’s decision to vacate the bantamweight title and said his obsession with training is what can make the difference
UFC BJJ president Claudia Gadelha believes Mikey Musumeci has a future in MMA. The American announced he was vacating the bantamweight title while UFC BJJ 12 was taking place on Thursday, October 8, in Las Vegas, and his decision came up at the press conference after the event.
“I am 100% sure Mikey will find ways to be good at MMA,” Gadelha said. “When he wants to do something he’s obsessed, and obsession is what help you be great in anything you do. So he’s obsessed with being good in MMA and that’s all he’s thinking about right now and that’s all he’s doing. So, I honestly think Mikey can be really good in MMA. I think he can make it to the UFC as well.”
“He accomplished everything he wanted”
Before that, she had been asked what she thought of the announcement. “Mikey is great. I love the kid. Very smart, very intelligent. He has been competing in jiu-jitsu his whole life, and it’s just fascinating to see him understanding that he accomplished everything he wanted in jiu-jitsu and he wants to move on and he wants new challenges,” she said.
Then she got ahead of herself and had to correct it. “I’m sure he’ll do really, really well in the UFC. Oh, sorry, not in the UFC yet, but maybe one day,” she said.
Gadelha knows that road. Before she took over UFC BJJ, she was an MMA fighter and fought for the UFC strawweight title.
What Musumeci said
In his announcement, the 30-year-old American used the same word. “I am 30 years old and have been obsessed with training mma and want to prioritize my training for mma!” he wrote. He is in Tokyo, where he said he has been learning striking every day, and he made it clear he is not leaving jiu-jitsu for good: he said he still trains every day, can come back anytime and will keep doing super fights with UFC BJJ.
Musumeci leaves the belt without a loss in the organization. He had five matches there: he won the title in 2025, defended it three times by submission and beat Bryce Mitchell, a UFC MMA fighter, in September. His full story is on the Mikey Musumeci profile page on VF Comunica.
The belt goes to Fonacier or Barboza
Gadelha also talked about the match for the vacant title. “Seeing his protege Jalen Fonacier coming here and winning a bunch of matches and now competing for the title that was Mikey’s title is a beautiful thing to see as well,” she said.
Fonacier, who is a student of Rubens Charles, known as Cobrinha, and thanked Musumeci for “the blessing to chase this title,” faces Brazil’s Kleber Barboza at UFC BJJ 13 on October 29 in Las Vegas. The other announced matches are in this story.
Does Mikey Musumeci have what it takes to reach the UFC? Leave your opinion in the comments.
