The ninth installment of UFC’s Fight Pass Invitational delivered an exciting evening of high-level no-gi jiu-jitsu, highlighted by the long-anticipated debut of Mikey Musumeci. The event, held in Las Vegas, featured a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, producing memorable moments on the mats.

Mikey Musumeci’s Debut: A Victory with Mixed Emotions

Mikey Musumeci, a five-time IBJJF world champion and former ONE Championship grappling titleholder, headlined the event against Felipe Machado. This match marked Musumeci’s first under his historic exclusive grappling deal with the UFC. Known for his dynamic submission game, Musumeci pulled guard immediately and attacked with a relentless series of leg locks and sweeps. Machado’s defensive resilience, however, kept him from securing a finish.

The match went into overtime, where Musumeci earned a 2-0 points victory. Despite the win, Musumeci expressed disappointment at not achieving a submission, apologizing to fans and vowing to improve.

“I didn’t finish the fight, so I failed,” Musumeci admitted post-fight. “I’ll get better, and the next time, I hope I can finish.”

Standout Performances Across the Card

The evening also saw standout performances from other notable grapplers:

• Jonnatas Gracie dominated Kyle Chambers with precise guard passes and mounted control, culminating in an anaconda choke submission.
• Ronaldo Junior showcased his aggression, finishing Nick Mataya with a D’Arce choke in overtime.
• Renato Canuto, known for his eccentric style, edged out Jason Nolf in a tactical battle that ended in overtime on points.

Other highlights included Ryan Aitken’s decisive takedown win over Gabriel Almeida and Maggie Grindatti’s quick heel-hook submission over Giovanna Carneiro.

Full Results

• Mikey Musumeci def. Felipe Machado (2-0, overtime)
• Renato Canuto def. Jason Nolf (0 to -1, overtime)
• Ronaldo Junior def. Nick Mataya via D’Arce choke (overtime)
• Raquel Canuto def. Michele Oliveira via rear-naked choke (overtime)
• Ryan Aitken def. Gabriel Almeida (2-0, overtime)
• Maggie Grindatti def. Giovanna Carneiro via heel hook (regulation)
• Damien Anderson def. Sandrey Silva via rear-naked choke (overtime)
• Luccas Lira def. Michael Pixley (0 to -3, overtime)
• Lavinia Barbosa def. Shelby Murphey via decision

What do you think of these results and who would you like to Musumeci to fight next? Comment below and let us know your thought!