Get to Know One Championship’s Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida

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Considered by many as one of the most decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors the sport has ever seen, heavyweight Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida was signed by One Championship last week to start his mixed martial arts journey.

Training at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, “Buchecha” talked exclusively with Sherdog correspondent Marcelo Alonso about the new phase in his career.

Almeida discussed with Alonso the importance of Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez and team AKA in regards to his transition to mixed martial arts and looked back at his initial boxing classes with Jason Parrillo and Rafael dos Anjos. He also revealed that his biggest rival, Rodolfo Vieira, was one of his biggest supporters in making the decision to try MMA.