‘Buchecha’ says he upgraded skills during time off: “I kept working hard in all areas”
Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend and ONE Championship heavyweight MMA contender Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida has learned a lot from the first loss in his budding mixed martial arts career.
Almeida suffered defeat at the hands of Senegal's Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane at ONE Fight Night 13 in Aug. 2023, sullying his previously perfect professional record.
The BJJ icon has since been out of action, working on his game and improving his skills in the interim. Now, 'Buchecha' has bared exactly what fans should expect when he steps back into the ring this weekend.
The 34-year-old American Top Team / Evolve MMA representative told ONE Championship:
"During this period I worked a lot, but I didn't change much. I continued to focus on everything I was doing before, both in striking, improving my grappling daily... So I didn't stop working at all. I kept working hard in all areas the same way I was doing before my last fight."
'Buchecha' joined the world's largest martial arts organization in Sept. 2021, debuting against Anderson 'Braddock' Silva at ONE: Revolution with a first-round submission win.
The 34-year-old then won four straight, before suffering defeat at the hands of Kane a year ago. Now, he's ready to pick up where he left off and take on a streaking competitor looking for a title shot.
Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida returns to face Amir Aliakbari at ONE 169 on Prime Video
BJJ icon Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida is set to make his return to the ONE Championship ring when he takes on streaking Amir Aliakbari in a pivotal heavyweight MMA clash.
Their showdown takes place at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug on Prime Video, which broadcasts live from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, Nov. 8.
Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action live and absolutely free with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding the event during fight week.