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ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion Mikey Musumeci has been fully embracing the Asian lifestyle ever since he decided to partially live on the continent. Part of his exploration of Asian culture is learning local languages and feasting on local cuisine.
One such food exploration was Mikey Musumeci's recent discovery in Manila, Philippines, when he visited the city for ONE 164 and ONE on Prime Video 5. Apparently, the pasta-loving jiu-jitsu savant has fallen in love with a sweet Filipino delicacy called "Ube". He even posted about it on his Instagram:
"Ube addict 🇵🇭 the new love in my life 🤣🤣"
Ube or "Ube halaya" is a Filipino dessert made out of boiled and mashed purple yam which is then sweetened and transformed into different kinds of sweets like pastries and ice cream. What Mikey Musumeci was holding in the picture were the "Polvoron" and jam variations of Ube. Polvoron is a powder-based candy dessert, while Ube jam is usually used as a spread akin to peanut butter.
Given how shredded and fit Musumeci looks without his shirt, one would be surprised how much of a "foodie" he is. The 26-year-old world champion gets giddy like a child when he talks about food and has admitted in the past that he eats pasta like it's nobody's business. He does, however, eat only once a day and trains seven days a week. He's not a diet guru, but we think we might want to start doing the Mikey Musumeci diet soon.
Mikey Musumeci reveals his next bout in ONE Championship
Just a few weeks after winning the inaugural ONE flyweight submission grappling world title at ONE on Prime Video 2, Mikey Musumeci announced his next bout inside the circle. The American grappling world champion posted this on his Instagram account:
"Jan 13 I am back in the circle 🍝❤️🇹🇭 // @onechampionship (match announcement soon 🤌🏻"
Musumeci made history by becoming ONE's first-ever submission grappling world champion by out-grappling his rival Cleber Sousa. Though many more world champions in different weight classes will be crowned in ONE Championship in the future, there's something special about being the first.
This sentiment was echoed by Musumeci in an interview with ONE Championship:
“I am the first champion of ONE ever in submission grappling. There are going to be so many amazing champions, but this is the beginning of it. Me and Cleber put on an amazing, exciting match for everyone. And we made history together... it was an honor."
Mikey Musumeci continued:
“It means everything to my legacy, you know, because I know ONE Championship is the biggest title in jiu-jitsu. And for future generations, this will be everything for everyone. So to be the first person to get it, it’s so special. I’m just honored that I’m the first person.”
Whoever he faces on January 13, we're sure Musumeci will be fighting not for fame or fortune but for legacy. A legacy rooted in peace, humility, courage, respect, and the martial arts spirit. This is why he is such a great world champion and ambassador of the sport.
