IBJJF 2017 World Jiu-Jitsu ChampionshipJun 5, 2017 by Willie Saylor
Michael Musumeci Joins American Pantheon, Becomes Youngest American Champ
Michael Musumeci Joins American Pantheon, Becomes Youngest American Champ
Michael Musumeci became just the fourth American to ever win an IBJJF Black Belt World Title.
Welcome to the World champion's club, young Michael!
After a tense Light-Feather final against perennial contender Joao Miyao, Michael Musumeci became just the fourth American to ever win an IBJJF Black Belt World Title. His title ended a 10-year drought for the United States. And at age 20, he's the youngest American to ever do it.
BJ Penn was 21 when he became the first American to accomplish the feat in 2000. Robert Drysdale (2005) and Rafael Lovato (2007) round out the list of Americans to win IBJJF Black Belt titles.
Take a look at the winners from the last 10 years, and it puts it into perspective how big a deal this is...
To get to the final, Musumeci erased the bad taste of last year's Worlds by beating Isaac Doederlein, who beat him in the quarter finals. Musumeci also defeated last year's gold medalist (adjusted following Paulo Miyao's doping test) Ary Farias.
Below you'll find all the matches that made up Michael's path to making American Jiu-Jitsu history.
Preliminary vs. Washington Lima
Quarterfinal vs. Isaac Doederlein
Semifinal vs. Ary Farias
Final vs. Joao Miyao
After a tense Light-Feather final against perennial contender Joao Miyao, Michael Musumeci became just the fourth American to ever win an IBJJF Black Belt World Title. His title ended a 10-year drought for the United States. And at age 20, he's the youngest American to ever do it.
BJ Penn was 21 when he became the first American to accomplish the feat in 2000. Robert Drysdale (2005) and Rafael Lovato (2007) round out the list of Americans to win IBJJF Black Belt titles.
Take a look at the winners from the last 10 years, and it puts it into perspective how big a deal this is...
To get to the final, Musumeci erased the bad taste of last year's Worlds by beating Isaac Doederlein, who beat him in the quarter finals. Musumeci also defeated last year's gold medalist (adjusted following Paulo Miyao's doping test) Ary Farias.
Below you'll find all the matches that made up Michael's path to making American Jiu-Jitsu history.