Well grappling fans, it’s been a wild ride the last few days to say the least. We were all ready to see Kade Ruotolo take on Mikey Musumeci at ONE 168, but that match is officially off. Instead, Mikey’s got a new challenger, and it’s none other than IBJJF world champ Bebeto Oliveira. You heard that right folks: Mikey's flyweight submission grappling title is still on the line, and things just got even more interesting.

What Happened to Kade?

Kade Ruotolo had to drop out of the fight after likely picking up an injury at the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), where he won a cool $1 million in the -80kg division. We were all pumped to see him and Musumeci go at it, but injuries happen, and Kade made the call to focus on recovery. He took to Instagram to break the news, saying:

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“I know a lot of people, including myself and Mikey, were looking forward to the ONE match in Denver, but unfortunately, it’s off.”

And now, Musumeci is stepping up to defend his title against Oliveira in what’s shaping up to be an unexpected but exciting replacement. Ariel Helwani first reported on this new development:

"ONE Championship has found a replacement opponent for Mikey Musumeci at ONE 168: Denver this Friday. Per sources, Musumeci will now be defending his Flyweight Submission Grappling World Championship against 2024 IBJJF World Champion Bebeto Oliveira on Friday. This comes after Kade Ruotolo dropped out due to injury a few days ago. Both fighters are in Denver, the fight is signed pending both passing ONE's weigh-ins and hydration tests tomorrow morning."

Enter Bebeto Oliveira

If you don’t know Bebeto Oliveira yet, let me fill you in. He’s the reigning IBJJF world champion in the roosterweight division. Funny enough, he and Musumeci have faced off before back in 2021 when Mikey won by ankle lock in the IBJJF World Championships quarterfinals. But that was three years ago, and both fighters have grown since then. Oliveira’s a beast in both gi and no-gi competitions, and while he’s coming in with nothing to lose, Mikey’s now got everything to defend.

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If you’re not familiar with Oliveira's track record, this guy is legit. Bebeto has racked up multiple IBJJF World Titles and Pan-American Championships, making him one of the most respected grapplers in the game. He’s taken down some serious names like Edwin "Junny" Ocasio, Paulo Miyao, and Thalison Soares, and his guard play is nothing short of top-tier. Plus, he’s known for his killer armbar technique—which he’s showcased countless times in competition and instructionals.

Mikey Musumeci was originally prepping to move up in weight and challenge Ruotolo for lightweight gold, but now he’s shifted gears to defend his flyweight title against Oliveira. It’s a quick change of plans, but Musumeci’s always game for a challenge. Meanwhile, Oliveira’s got the chance to pull off a major upset, and let’s be honest—he’s dangerous. This rematch is no walk in the park for Mikey, and that’s exactly what makes it so exciting.

The Mikey vs. Bebeto fight is the perfect setup. Get your popcorn ready.

The Show Must Go On

Despite the late shakeup, ONE 168 is still a must-watch for grappling fans. Musumeci vs. Oliveira keeps the submission grappling spotlight alive, and it’s another great matchup for U.S. fans tuning in on Prime Video this Friday, September 6, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. So while we’re all bummed about Kade’s injury, Musumeci vs. Oliveira is going to bring plenty of heat. Let’s get ready for another epic night of grappling action, and who knows—maybe we’ll get that Ruotolo vs. Musumeci match later down the road!