Buchecha welcomes clash of grappling styles with Amir Aliakbari 

Marcus Buchecha Almeida said he welcomes a potential clash of grappling styles with Amir Aliakbari for his next heavyweight match.

Despite having only two fights to start the year, Buchecha demonstrated that he has a legitimate claim to the heavyweight crown. Making quick work of skilled MMA practitioners such as Belarusus’ Kirill Grishenko and Australia’s Simon Carson for example can start conversations about a world title fight.

However, making his own rise to the top after a shaky start to the promotion, Amir Aliakbari seems to have found his footing. With back-to-back finishes against MMA veterans Mauro Cerilli and Brandon Vera, a clash of grappling styles against Marcus Almeida would certainly put one of them next in line for a world title shot.

As two of the top guys in the division, ONE recently asked Buchecha if a match with Aliakbari would be something he’d be interested in, the 32-year-old black belt said:

“I think it would be a very interesting fight. If I want to fight for the belt, I have to fight everyone. And he's a guy who's in line. We're both in line, very close to a title shot, so sooner or later, we're going to end up facing each other."

He added:

"If it has to be this fight before the belt, it would be cool. And like I said, it would be an interesting fight because there are two styles of grappling. He has a very good level in wrestling and I have a level in jiu-jitsu that nobody in the division has. So, I would try to use that to my advantage.”

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Marcus Buchecha says he’s grateful for his sister’s support in MMA

It’s an understatement to say it’s been quite a rollercoaster ride for Marcus Buchecha since he transitioned from jiu-jitsu to MMA in the last few years.

However, he’s grateful for his family who gave him the support and self-esteem he needed during those trying times.

He’s especially grateful for his older sister Ana, who’s been there from the start and who initially introduced him to martial arts.

He told ONE:

“I think my sister is my number one fan. She’s always really enjoyed following my career closely. She even has a tattoo of me on her arm! I think she and my mom are my biggest fans. In MMA, the same thing. My sister keeps cheering, watching, and screaming. She definitely gives me great support.”

Prior to joining ONE Championship, the Brazilian superstar had amassed a breaking record of 17 gold medals in Brazilian jiu-jitsu before picking up the gloves to pursue mixed martial arts full-time. With a strong support system in place, Buchecha feels he can do just about anything.