”I believe in my jiu-jitsu” - ‘Buchecha’ knew he needed to rely on his bread and butter to counter Amir Aliakbari’s elite wrestling

Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend and top ONE Championship heavyweight MMA contender Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida remained confident in his ability to put opponents on their backs and strangle them on the ground -- and it paid dividends last Saturday.

The decorated multi-time BJJ world champion made his highly anticipated return to action at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug on Prime Video, when he took on streaking Iranian star Amir Aliakbari in a pivotal three-round heavyweight MMA clash.

'Buchecha' made quick work of his adversary, snapping Aliakbari's four-fight winning streak via first-round submission. Almeida showcased his well-rounded game, but quickly took matters to the canvas where he swiftly moved to a rear-naked choke to force the tap.

Speaking to veteran MMA reporter Nic Atkin of Bangkok Post in a post-fight interview, Almeida says he was relieved to have gotten the victory so easily.

'Buchecha' stated:

"A lot of people doubted me because of his skills, but I believe in my skills, I believe in my jiu-jitsu, and that’s what I did. Now time to go home, rest, relax, and set the next goals for my life and my career."

ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug on Prime Video went down live from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday, November 9. Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action via replay on-demand with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.

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What's next for Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida after his impressive submission over Amir Aliakbari at ONE 169?

Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida may have just punched his ticket to a shot at the ONE heavyweight MMA world title with his victory over Amir Aliakbari at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug on Prime Video.

Senegalese star Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane scored a massive upset in the main event of that card, beating now former champion Anatoly Malykhin to take the gold.

'Buchecha' and 'Reug Reug' are definitely on a collision course, and a date between the two heavyweights may be next.

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida's next fight.