Gabriel Sousa says he’s been "doing the same thing" for Mikey Musumeci rematch: "Get around his guard and pass again"
BJJ ace Gabriel Sousa is no longer a stranger to the game of upcoming opponent Mikey Musumeci. He said he is going through what he already knows while incorporating new things as part of his preparation for their rematch next week.
The 27-year-old ZR Team standout will be making his ONE Championship debut at ONE 167: Tawanchai vs. Nattawut on June 7 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
He will be going up against Musumeci in a bantamwemeight submission grappling clash, part of the event which will air live and for free in U.S. primetime to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
It is a rematch of their first encounter in September 2021 outside of ONE Championship, where Gabriel Sousa sprung up a surprise and defeated Musumeci by subsmission despite coming in as a late-replacement opponent.
In an interview over El Estudio De Leo on YouTube, Sousa shared how preparation has been like against a familiar foe, saying:
"The training camp is basically based on how to get around his guard and pass again. That's basically what I've been doing. Just been doing the same thing I did to beat him and trying to add a bit more techniques."
Watch the interview below:
Heading into ONE 167, Sousa has won his last four matches and is looking to create a big ripple in his maiden outing in the House of Martial Arts.
Musumeci, the ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion, meanwhile, will be going up in weight division in the hopes of redeeming himself from his loss to Sousa the first time around.
Gabriel Sousa looking to impose fighting style to get win at ONE 167
Decorated submission grappler Gabriel Sousa said he has a different fighting style from Mikey Musumeci and is looking to impose it in their rematch at ONE 167 on June 7 in Thailand to get the win.
He moved to highlight it in an interview with ONE Championship, saying that from his end it is more of takedowns and passing guards, which he hopes can get the job done at ONE 167, saying:
"I have another figting style. I like takedowns and I like passing guards. Mikey, on the other hand, likes to play guard and take the back or attack footlocks. There are two different fighting styles."
Gabriel Sousa currently holds the distinction as the last fighter to submit Musumeci, winner of nine straight since, the last six under ONE Championship. It is something that he is out to maintain at ONE 167.