Mikey Musumeci will grapple with a mixed martial artist (MMA) legend in October.
Sources confirmed to MMAmania.com that Musumeci, the ONE Championship flyweight submission grappling champion, will face former two-time ONE lightweight champion Shinya Aoki in a one-round, 10-minute grappling match on Oct. 6, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 15 from inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The match will not be for Musumeci’s championship.
Musumeci, 27, defended his flyweight submission grappling title against ONE strawweight champion Jarred Brooks last weekend at ONE Fight Night 13. “Darth Rigatoni” is riding an eight-fight win streak and is currently undefeated in ONE Championship, submitting three out of his five opponents.
Aoki, 40, has been out of action since his first-round technical knockout loss against Saygid Izagakhmaev at ONE 163: “Akimoto vs. Petchtanong” in Nov. 2022. The MMA legend is no stranger to grappling matches and has grappled four times under the ONE banner. He lost to ONE Lightweight submission grappling champion Kade Ruotolo via unanimous decision last year as well.
Tawanchai PK Saenchai will headline ONE Fight Night 15 against Superbon Singha Mawynn for the ONE Lightweight Muay Thai Championship.
Timofey Nastyukhin’s opponent is no pushover
Standing in Timofey Nastyukhin’s path to redemption is Zhang Lipeng. The Chinese bruiser needs no introduction to hardcore followers of the sport.
Zhang, who won “The Ultimate Fighter: China” in 2013, has 33 wins and owns a 75% finishing rate. He also holds victories over the likes of former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion Eduard Folayang and rising welterweight contender Ruslan Emilbek Uulu.
But like Nastyukhin, Zhang enters this bout on the heels of a loss. He experienced his first defeat under the promotion’s banner in September 2022. It came by the hands of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege, Saygid Izagakhmaev.
With both men coming off losses, it adds an extra layer of intensity to their showdown. This means the two will leave nothing to chance in their quest for victory in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Nastyukhin, a former ONE Lightweight MMA World Title challenger, has 14 victories and a 79% finishing rate. He’s also built a reputation for his aggressive style and knack for delivering knockouts. Perhaps his most memorable victory was against former UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez, who he beat via first-round TKO in March 2019.
However, after staring at a three-fight losing streak, Nastyukhin finds himself at a crucial juncture in his ONE Championship career.
The Russian’s upcoming tilt with Zhang is more than just another bout, though. It’s a chance for Nastyukhin to prove he still belongs among the elite of the lightweight division.
Lets hope aoki doesnt maim him
I don’t think we’re gonna have to worry about that.
Can we get Time Machine Aoki out there for a solid match?
Supergirl needs to stick to Muay Thai. She’s not doing herself any favors taking away some of her best weapons.
I think Aoki is old now and MM is gonna plow right thru him. Levels exist. Aoki might have been on his level at one time but he’s old and Mikey is the cream of the crop right now. I’d love to be wrong tho. I like both guys.