The ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion, Mikey Musumeci, is preparing for a highly anticipated clash against Kade Ruotolo at ONE 168: Denver. This upcoming fight, scheduled for September 6th at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, will see Ruotolo defending his ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title. The event marks ONE Championship’s exciting return to American soil for the second time.

While fans are familiar with Mikey Musumeci’s illustrious career, the cause of his frequent black eye remains a bit of a mystery. However, in a recent social media post, “Darth Rigatoni” finally revealed the secret behind his shiner.

Mikey Musumeci reveals black eye ahead of ONE 168

Fresh off his victory over Gabriel Sousa last month, Mikey Musumeci is making a bold move by stepping up a weight class to challenge the talented Kade Ruotolo for his ONE gold. Musumeci, a prodigy who began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu career at a young age, has laid a strong foundation for his successful journey in the sport. However, one constant source of curiosity among fans has been the trademark black eye. Thankfully, Musumeci recently took to Instagram to reveal the secret behind it.

“🐶 Black Eye???? – A lot of people always ask me if I have a black eye since I was a kid!” Musumeci wrote.” It’s actually a birthmark 😊 although I must admit I used to enjoy making up fun stories about how I got this “black eye.” 😅. I was offered to get my birthmark removed via Lazer as a kid, but refused because God gave me this birthmark and I think it’s cool😊😎,” he added.

Mikey Musumeci is a devout athlete who frequently expresses his gratitude to God. This was evident again on social media a few days ago, where “Darth Rigatoni” celebrated his 28th birthday and acknowledged the divine role in his life’s journey.

Mikey Musumeci reflected on his journey on his birthday

Last week, ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey Musumeci celebrated his 28th birthday. Despite his young age, Musumeci has already achieved remarkable success in the sport. However, the champion believes that the struggles and setbacks he’s faced along the way have also played a crucial role in shaping him into the athlete he is today.

In his Instagram post, “Darth Rigatoni” penned a message for himself, expressing his desire for continued improvement and becoming the best fighter he can be. Musumeci wrote, “2️⃣8️⃣ Years old // How am I still alive?? 😅 🤷‍♂️ So blessed with the path God has me on every day and all the obstacles that are given to me! Eager to keep learning, growing, and improving for another year! God bless everyone ❤️”

Now, all eyes are on Mikey Musumeci’s upcoming challenge as he steps up to the lightweight division. After dominating the flyweight division and claiming the ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Title, the question remains: can he replicate his success in this new weight class? Share your thoughts in the comments below.