Owen Jones, one of the brightest young stars in Jiu-Jitsu, didn’t mince words in a recent appearance on The Charles Eoghan Experience podcast when the conversation turned to Mikey Musumeci.

The Welsh grappler voiced strong objections to Musumeci being presented as the leading figure in the sport, particularly on the no-gi side:

I just don’t like that they’re trying to make him the face of the sport.
I just don’t like it. I don’t think he deserves it.

I feel like (him being) the face of gi jiu-jitsu is fine. He was very accomplished in the gi. Did a bunch of stuff. No-gi, he actually hasn’t even done anything of value. Like he’s not beat anybody super high level, right?

He cited Gabriel Sousa as Musumeci’s top no-gi win—but even that, according to Jones, didn’t prove much:

The best guy he’s beat is Gabriel Sousa, but Gabriel is one-on-one with him.
Now he’s beating like Rerisson Gabriel, right? I’ve never seen Rerisson Gabriel do no-gi. I don’t even know who he is.

Jones was also puzzled by Musumeci’s leadership roles in team settings, especially given that top stars like Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones have passed on potential matchups with him:

Why is he captain of a team? Genuine question.

According to Jones, Musumeci’s elevated profile is more about follower counts than actual performance:

Why does he get to do that and I don’t? Because he’s got million followers.
That’s why he’s got bare followers from beating scrubs.

He didn’t stop there. Jones took issue with Musumeci’s ability to finish submissions, citing recent performances as examples:

He has good entries. Very clean entries. I will not take this away from him, but he can’t finish.
Took three rounds to submit a guy who wasn’t even defending.

Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide for Calmly Beating Bigger, Younger Opponents

💥 What if slowing down was the fastest way to win? 💭 Tired of Getting Smashed by Younger, Stronger Grapplers? It’s not your age. It’s your strategy. If you’re a passionate grappler over 35 who’s sick of getting outpaced, outmuscled, or out-cardio’d by opponents half your age — this 120 page e-book was made for you. 🔓 Unlock the Power of Sloth Jiu-Jitsu:

Build Sustainable Strength—Without Wrecking Your Joints, Energy, or Jiu-Jitsu

Tired of waking up sore and burnt out after lifting? Sloth Strength is a proven blueprint for grapplers over 35 who want to get stronger—without the pain, burnout, or injuries.

Developed from 25 years on the mats, this no-burnout approach is made specifically for BJJ athletes in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.