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Musumeci vacates UFC BJJ bantamweight title to pursue full MMA career at 30

Four-time IBJJF world champion Mikey Musumeci has relinquished the UFC BJJ bantamweight title, citing a desire to prioritise MMA training. The vacant belt will be contested at UFC BJJ 13 on Oct. 29.

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Musumeci vacates UFC BJJ bantamweight title to pursue full MMA career at 30
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Mikey Musumeci has vacated the UFC BJJ bantamweight title to focus on a transition into mixed martial arts, the four-time IBJJF world champion announced in a personal statement. The 30-year-old went unbeaten across four UFC BJJ title defences — all by submission — before defeating UFC bantamweight Bryce Mitchell on points in September.

“I am 30 years old and have been obsessed with training MMA and want to prioritize my training for MMA,” Musumeci wrote. “I train jiu-jitsu everyday still and can come back anytime.”

Musumeci, a former grappling champion in ONE Championship, made clear the decision is not a full departure from submission grappling. He intends to keep competing in UFC BJJ super fights, but without the obligation of title defences that could slow his MMA development.

“I will continue to do more grappling super fights with UFC BJJ, just a different style of jiu-jitsu more to get people out of our sport to watch,” he wrote. “That means more to me at the point I am in my career.”

The vacant UFC BJJ bantamweight title will headline UFC BJJ 13 on Oct. 29, where Jalen Fonacier meets Kleber Barboza for the belt.

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