June 1, 2022
JAKARTA – Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida is ready to thrill global fans once again when he makes his long-awaited return to the Circle in “ONE: Tawanchai vs. Larsen” this Friday (June 3) at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The multiple-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion faces Australia’s Simon Carson in a heavyweight mixed martial arts bout, and he hopes to continue his dominant run in the all-encompassing sport.
Buchecha left the world of grappling behind when he signed with ONE and has looked almost unstoppable since making his MMA debut last year. The 32-year-old has two wins under his belt, both first-round submission finishes, and he is starting to settle into his new life as a mixed martial artist. “To be honest, whatever I see, I take. So if I see a good opportunity [for a] takedown, I’ll do it. If I see a good opportunity to strike, I’m going to do it. It’s hard to predict a fight. It depends on how my opponent’s going to react. So I can’t plan on one thing, [because my opponent can] have a completely different strategy from what I’m thinking,” he said. “So, I don’t like to think too much. It’s a fight. That’s how I did [it] my whole life in my grappling career. I’m not really planning too much, but feeling how the fight goes. It’s all there. It just happens.”
The Brazilian behemoth meets a dangerous foe in Carson. The Aussie is a striking-heavy fighter that has taken home two wins by first-round technical knockout (TKO). Carson showcased his all-around skill set in his two victories, winning with his knees in one and with his fists in the other. So Buchecha will need to be aware of his opponent’s versatility.
The Evolve MMA representative has been preparing to step back onto the global stage for some time now, and he feels more than ready to face his upcoming opponent’s stand-up game. “I have been training in pretty much everything. It’s MMA, so you have to be complete everywhere, [in] all the aspects. My striking is really good, my grappling got better, and my wrestling [also]. I’m feeling really confident with everything right now. Every time that I train, every time that I [compete in ONE], I feel more comfortable than the previous time,” he said.