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Mikey Musumeci’s highly anticipated debut at the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 9 ended in victory, though not in the fashion he had hoped. The five-time IBJJF world champion and former ONE Championship flyweight submission grappling titleholder headlined the event in Las Vegas, taking on Felipe Machado. While Musumeci earned a decision win, he was unable to achieve a submission finish, leaving him disappointed despite the triumph.
In the match, Musumeci wasted no time, pulling guard and immediately launching a series of leg lock attacks. Machado’s defense, however, proved formidable as he consistently thwarted submission attempts. Musumeci maintained dominant positional control and prevented Machado from mounting any meaningful offense, but neither grappler managed to secure a finish during regulation.
The bout moved to overtime, where Musumeci’s relentless offensive strategy remained in play. Yet, Machado’s stout defense held up, forcing the match to end in a decision victory for Musumeci. Despite the win, Musumeci was visibly disappointed, stating:
“I didn’t finish the fight, so I failed.”
In his post-fight remarks, Musumeci also addressed the fans, expressing his regret over the outcome.
“I just want to apologize to the fans for not getting a finish today,” he said. “I did my best. I’ll get better, and the next time, I hope I can finish.”
The event featured an exciting lineup of matches, showcasing high-level grappling talent:
Mikey Musumeci def. Felipe Machado via decision
Renato Canuto def. Jason Nolf via decision
Ronaldo Junior def. Nick Mataya via submission (D’Arce choke)
Jonnatas Gracie def. Kyle Chambers via submission (D’Arce choke)
Raquel Canuto def. Michele Oliveira via submission (rear-naked choke)
Ryan Aitken def. Gabriel Almeida via decision
Maggie Grindatti Lira def. Giovanna Carneiro via submission (heel hook)
Damien Anderson def. Sandrey Silva via submission (rear-naked choke)
Luccas Lira def. Michael Pixley via decision
Lavinia Barbosa def. Shelby Murphey via decision
While Musumeci’s debut may not have ended with a signature finish, his dominance and technical prowess were on full display. Fans will undoubtedly look forward to his next appearance as he seeks to deliver a more satisfying result.
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