UFC BJJ champ Mikey Musumeci moves up in weight to face Bryce Mitchell in September

UFC BJJ champion Mikey Musumeci will step up to featherweight on September 24 to face Bryce Mitchell in a non-title headliner for UFC BJJ 11, marking the first time an active UFC fighter has competed against a UFC BJJ champion. Musumeci's bantamweight belt will not be on the line for the bout.

Mitchell, known as "Thug Nasty," has built a 19-win MMA record heavily reliant on submission finishes—10 submissions total, though only two have come since joining the UFC in 2018. His most recent submission victory occurred in June at the Meta APEX, when he finished Santiago Luna with an arm-triangle choke with just eight seconds remaining in the final round. Over the past nine months, Mitchell has competed three times in grappling contests, including a draw against fellow UFC fighter Jean Silva in March and two EBI matches in September 2025, where he defeated JJ Bowers before losing to Landon Elmore via heel hook.

Musumeci arrives as an undefeated grappler under the UFC BJJ banner and a four-time IBJJF world champion as a black belt. His ONE Championship tenure was flawless, highlighted by four consecutive heel hook finishes while winning and defending his 135-pound title across an 11-month span.

The co-main event will feature light heavyweight champion Mason Fowler defending his belt against Nicky Rod in another title clash on the card.