Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida (ONE Championship)
M
arcus Almeida is only three fights into his ONE Championship career, but the Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ) legend has already made a name for himself in the promotion’s growing heavyweight mixed martial arts (MMA) ranks.
Buchecha, as he is known among fans, is 3-0 inside the Circle, where he has spent less than eight minutes, and all of his wins have come by knockout or submission just moments into the first round.
With ONE heavyweight world champion Arjan “Singh” Bhullar and interim titleholder Anatoly “Sladkiy” Malykhin set to answer the question of who truly sits atop of the division sometime in the near future, Almeida has a real chance to present himself as a threat to the rankings right now.
And his next chance to do so will come against Kirill Grishenko, who he faces at ONE Fight Night 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II on Aug. 27 at Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Here, we look at three reasons why the Brazilian Jiujitsu superstar turned MMA up-and-comer could be on track to becoming the man to beat in the heavyweight division.
#1 Unmatched ground game
Almeida’s BJJ career speaks for itself and automatically makes him a serious threat to anyone who steps into the ONE Circle opposite of him.
Along with being a 17-time world champion in the sport, he also racked up an impressive record of 138-14-1.
He has put his immense skill set to work since making the switch to MMA last year, with his first two wins in the Circle coming by submission.
Buchecha announced himself on the global stage in September 2021 when he submitted Anderson “Braddock” Silva via north-south choke at ONE: REVOLUTION. And he followed that up by forcing Kang “Mighty Warrior” Ji Won to tap via a rear-naked choke at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II three months later.
The question of who can defeat the Brazilian juggernaut currently looms large over the heavyweight division. But the answer to who could survive his submissions is more or less already answered – no one.
#2 He makes quick work of his opponents
Buchecha has exhibited his efficiency inside the Circle since his first visit. He has needed less than three minutes to finish each of his fights, with his most recent bout, against Simon Carson at ONE 158: Tawanchai vs. Larsen in June, ending in under two and a half minutes.
Any opponent who’s drawn against him can expect a fast start from the Brazilian star, and they’ll have to be ready for him to take things to the canvas immediately if given the chance.
In a division of hulking behemoths, this speed serves as an intimidating prospect, helping Almeida get into the heads of his rivals before the opening bell even sounds.
Read also: ONE Championship announces full card for ONE 161
#3 Vastly improved stand-up game
With his aforementioned grappling prowess, many assume that Buchecha would only be dominant if on the canvas. But the 32-year-old star has shown that he also possesses some reputable standup skills.
He scored his first knock-out (KO) win against Carson by delivering some devastating ground-and-pound, and he delivered a slew of nasty leg kicks beforehand to damage his Australian foe.
If he continues to develop his strikes, both with his hands and legs, then the BJJ superstar will be a true all-around threat, capable of taking on the best the heavyweight division has to offer.
Watch ONE 159: De Ridder vs. Bigdash live on NETVERSE, Vidio.com, Kaskus TV, or MAXstream beginning with the lead card at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
The main card broadcasts live on NETVERSE, Vidio.com, Kaskus TV and MAXstream at 7:30 p.m.
Also, NET TV will air a same-day encore at 10:30 p.m.
This article is published in collaboration with ONE Championship.
