Marcus Buchecha
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner
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Marcus Vinícius Oliveira de Almeida, also known as Buchecha (born January 8, 1990) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and 4th-degree black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioner.[a] A professional mixed martial artist since 2020, he currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He formerly competed in the heavyweight division of ONE Championship.
January 8, 1990
Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
| Marcus Almeida | |
|---|---|
| Born | Marcus Vinícius Oliveira de Almeida January 8, 1990 Santos, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Other names | Buchecha |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Weight | 254 lb (115 kg; 18 st 2 lb) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Reach | 80 in (203 cm) |
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Team | Checkmat American Kickboxing Academy (2014–present)[1] American Top Team (2020–present)[2] |
| Rank | 4th deg. BJJ black belt[3] |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 8 |
| Wins | 5 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 4 |
| Losses | 2 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Medal record | |
A multiple-time World jiu-jitsu and ADCC submission fighting champion, Buchecha is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame and widely considered as one of the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors of all time.
Early life
Almeida was born and grew up in Santos, São Paulo. His sister started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu when Marcus was 14 years old, forcing him to come along to the gym so their father Clayton could keep an eye on her.[5] Subsequently, Marcus and Clayton started training jiu-jitsu also, leading both to become black belts and the latter winning IBJJF Masters World Championship.[6] Almeida is a black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca, who gave Almeida his nickname Buchecha, which means cheek and is a reference to him having chubby cheeks when he was overweight.[7] Almeida competes under the Checkmat team.[8]
Mixed martial arts career
ONE Championship
Despite talking about transitioning to mixed martial arts since 2015, news surfaced four years later on July 30, 2020, that Almeida had signed a multi-year contract with ONE Championship.[9][10] He has been training mixed martial arts at the American Kickboxing Academy and has competed in the heavyweight division.[10]
In August 2020, Almeida had to withdraw from an upcoming BJJ match with Fabrício Werdum due to a knee injury that has also delayed his MMA debut for ONE FC.[11] Almeida was scheduled to make his MMA debut against Oumar Kane at ONE Championship.[12] Unfortunately, Almeida was removed from the card and replaced with Alain Ngalani on 13 January 2021, reportedly due to suffering an injury in training.[13] After recovering from his injury, he was booked to make his MMA debut against Kang Ji-Won at ONE on TNT 1.[14] Kang later withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons.[15]
Almeida was scheduled to face Thomas Narmo at ONE Championship: Revolution on September 24, 2021.[16] Narmo later withdrew for undisclosed reasons, and was replaced by Anderson “Braddock” Silva.[17] He won the bout in the first round via north–south choke.[18]
Almeida faced Kang Ji Won at ONE: Winter Warriors on December 3, 2021.[19] He won the bout via rear-naked choke in the first round.[20]
Almeida was scheduled to face Oumar "Reug Reug" Kane on April 22, 2022, at ONE 156.[21] However, the week of the event, it was announced that the bout would be moved to May 20.[22] Yet, Kane withdrew from the bout citing injury and was replaced by Hugo Cunha who in turn tested positive for COVID-19 and the bout was scrapped.[23][24] Almeida was later rescheduled to face Simon Carson at ONE 158 on June 3, 2022.[25] He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout, stopping Carson with ground and pound midway through the opening round.[26]
Almeida faced Kirill Grishenko at ONE on Prime Video 1 on August 27, 2022.[27] He won the bout early in the first round after submmiting Kirill with a heel hook.[28] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[29]
Almeida faced Oumar Kane on August 5, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 13.[30][31] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[32]
A biopic entitled Buchecha: Far Beyond World Records was released in 2023.[33]
Almeida faced Amir Aliakbari on November 9, 2024, at ONE 169.[34] He won the fight by submission in the first round and earned a $50,000 ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus.[35] This was the final fight of Almeida's contract, and he became a free agent after it.[36]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On July 7, 2025, it was reported that Almeida had signed with Ultimate Fighting Championship; he made his promotional debut against Martin Buday on July 26, 2025, at UFC on ABC 9.[37] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[38]
Almeida faced Kennedy Nzechukwu on December 13, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 73.[39] Despite Nzechukwu being deducted one point due to an eye poke, the bout ended via unanimous draw.[40]
Championships and accomplishments
Brazilian jiu-jitsu / Submission wrestling
Main Achievements (Black Belt):[5]
- ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion (2013 / 2017)
- IBJJF World Champion (2012[b] / 2013[b] / 2014[b] / 2016[b] / 2017[b] / 2018 / 2019[b])
- IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2010[b] / 2011[b])
- IBJJF Pan Champion (2012**)
- IBJJF Pro League Grand Prix Champion (2016)
- UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (2012[c] / 2013[c] / 2014[b] / 2015[b])
- 2nd Place ADCC World Championship (2019[c])
- 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2011[c])
- 3rd Place ADCC World Championship (2017[c])
Mixed martial arts
- ONE Championship
- Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Kirill Grishenko and Amir Aliakbari[29]
- MMAjunkie.com
- 2022 August Submission of the Month vs. Kirill Grishenko[41]
Brazilian jiu-jitsu / submission wrestling record
| 142 Matches, 128 Wins (67 Submissions), 13 Losses (6 Submissions), 1 draw | ||||||||
| Rec. | Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Division | Type | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 128–13–1 |  Gordon Ryan | Negative Points (1–0) | ADCC World Championship | Absolute | Nogi | September 29, 2019 | Anaheim, CA |
| Win | 128–12–1 |  Mahamed Aly | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Win | 127–12–1 | Aaron Johnson | Points (3–0) | |||||
| Win | 126–12–1 | Keith Krikorian | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Loss | 125–12–1 | Kaynan Duarte | Referee Decision | +99 kg | ||||
| Win | 125–11–1 | Victor Hugo | Points (3–0) | September 28, 2019 | ||||
| Win | 124–11–1 | Antonio Braga Neto | Points (2–0) | |||||
| Win | 123–11–1 | Ricardo Evangelista | Submission (bow & arrow choke) | IBJJF World Championship | +100 kg | Gi | June 2, 2018 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 122–11–1 | Max Gimenis | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Win | 121–11–1 | Thomas McMahon | Points (11–0) | |||||
| Win | 120–11–1 | Felipe Andrew | Submission (armbar) | Absolute | June 1, 2018 | |||
| Win | 119–11–1 | Felipe Pena | Referee Decision | |||||
| Win | 118–11–1 | Otavio Nalati | Points (13–0) | |||||
| Loss | 117–11–1 | João Gabriel Rocha | Advantages | BJJ Stars | Superfight | Gi | February 23, 2019 | São Paulo |
| Win | 117–10–1 | João Gabriel Rocha | Referee Decision | IBJJF World Championship | +100 kg | Gi | June 3, 2018 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 116–10–1 | Victor Honório | Submission (kimura) | |||||
| Win | 115–10–1 | Otavio Nalati | Points (2–0) | |||||
| Win | 114–10–1 | Max Gimenis | Submission (choke) | June 2, 2018 | ||||
| Win | 113–10–1 | Nicholas Meregali | Points (5–2) | Absolute | ||||
| Win | 112–10–1 | Felipe Andrews | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Win | 111–10–1 | Rodrigo Martins | Points (2–0) | |||||
| Win | 110–10–1 | Mahamed Aly | Points | ACBJJ | Superfight | Gi | May 5, 2018 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 109–10–1 | Mahamed Aly | Submission (heel hook) | ADCC World Championship | Absolute | Nogi | September 24, 2017 |  Espoo |
| Loss | 108–10–1 | Felipe Pena | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Win | 108–9–1 | Alexandre Ribeiro | Referee Decision | |||||
| Win | 107–9–1 | Mike Perez | Negative Points (0–1) | |||||
| Win | 106–9–1 | Orlando Sanchez | Points (6–0) | +99 kg | ||||
| Win | 105–9–1 | Roberto Abreu | Points (4–0) | |||||
| Win | 104–9–1 | Tim Spriggs | Submission (rear naked choke) | September 23, 2017 | ||||
| Win | 103–9–1 |  Arman Zhanpeisov | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Win | 102–9–1 | Leandro Lo | Referee Decision | IBJJF Pro Grand Prix | Absolute | Gi | August 26, 2017 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 101–9–1 | João Gabriel Rocha | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Win | 100–9–1 | Dimitrius Souza | Advantages (2–0) | |||||
| Loss | 99–9–1 | Roger Gracie | Submission (choke) | Gracie Pro | Superfight | Gi | July 23, 2017 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 99–8–1 | Leandro Lo | Advantages | IBJJF World Championship | Absolute | Gi | June 4, 2017 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 98–8–1 | Gustavo Elias | Submission (brabo choke) | +100 kg | ||||
| Win | 97–8–1 | João Gabriel Rocha | Submission (ezekiel choke) | |||||
| Win | 96–8–1 | Igor Schneider | Points (13–7) | |||||
| Win | 95–8–1 | Erberth Santos | Points (2–0) | Absolute | June 3, 2017 | |||
| Win | 94–8–1 | Mahamad Aly | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Win | 93–8–1 | Igor Schneider | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 92–8–1 | Rafael Lovato Jr. | Points (5–0) | ADCC North American Trials | Superfight | Nogi | April 15, 2017 | Los Angeles, CA |
| Win | 91–8–1 | Eliot Marshall | Submission (inverted triangle) | Fight 2 Win | Superfight | Nogi | August 13, 2016 | Denver, CO |
| Win | 90–8–1 | Leo Nogueira | Advantages | IBJJF Pro Grand Prix | Absolute | Gi | July 10, 2016 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 89–8–1 | João Gabriel Rocha | Points (7–0) | |||||
| Win | 88–8–1 | Bruno Bastos | Submission (bow & arrow choke) | |||||
| Win | 87–8–1 | Erberth Santos | Points (4–2) | IBJJF World Championship | Absolute | Gi | Long Beach, CA | |
| Win | 86–8–1 | James Puepolo | Submission (armbar) | +100 kg | ||||
| Win | 85–8–1 | João Gabriel Rocha | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 84–8–1 | Felipe Pena | Submission (armbar) | Absolute | ||||
| Win | 83–8–1 | Pedro Moura | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 82–8–1 |  Elliot Kelly | Points (6–0) | |||||
| Loss | 81–8–1 | Ricardo Evangelista | Advantages | IBJJF World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2015 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 81–7–1 | Alan Regis | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 80–7–1 | Gabriel Checco | Submission (estima lock) | JJ World League | Superfight | Gi | ||
| Win | 79–7–1 |  Alexander Trans | Advantages | World Cup | Absolute | Gi |  Abu Dhabi | |
| Win | 78–7–1 | Leandro Lo | Advantages | |||||
| Win | 77–7–1 | Erberth Santos | Submission (estima lock) | |||||
| Win | 76–7–1 | Helcio Pinto | Submission (guillotine choke) | |||||
| Win | 75–7–1 | Alexander Trans | Points (2–0) | +95 kg | ||||
| Win | 74–7–1 | Ricardo Evangelista | Submission (guillotine choke) | |||||
| Win | 73–7–1 | Rodrigo Perriera | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Win | 72–7–1 | Rodolfo Vieira | Points (2–0) | IBJJF World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2014 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 71–7–1 | Alexander Trans | Submission (choke) | +100 kg | ||||
| Win | 70–7–1 | Ricardo Evangelista | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Win | 69–7–1 | Helton Nogueira | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 68–7–1 | Keenan Cornelius | Points (10–4) | Absolute | ||||
| Win | 67–7–1 | Felipe Pena | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 66–7–1 | Ricardo Evangelista | Advantages | |||||
| Win | 65–7–1 | James Nunes | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 64–7–1 | Alexander Trans | Points (2–0) | World Cup | +95 kg | Gi | Abu Dhabi | |
| Win | 63–7–1 | Ricardo Evangelista | Advantages | |||||
| Win | 62–7–1 | Allan Ferreira | Points (7–0) | |||||
| Win | 61–7–1 | Rodolfo Vieira | Points (2–0) | Absolute | ||||
| Win | 60–7–1 | Keenan Cornelius | Advantages | |||||
| Win | 59–7–1 | Victor Estima | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Win | 58–7–1 | Claudio Calasans | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Win | 57–7–1 |  Luca Anacoreta | Submission (katagatame) | |||||
| Loss | 56–7–1 | Roberto Abreu | Points (0–10) | ADCC World Championship | Absolute | Nogi | 2013 |  Beijing |
| Win | 56–6–1 | Dean Lister | Points (5–0) | ADCC 2013 | Absolute | Nogi | 2013 | |
| Win | 55–6–1 | Garry Tonon | Points | ADCC 2013 | Absolute | Nogi | 2013 | |
| Win | 54–6–1 | João Gabriel Rocha | Submission (heel hook) | ADCC 2013 | +99 kg | Nogi | 2013 | |
| Win | 53–6–1 | Roberto Abreu | Points | ADCC 2013 | +99 kg | Nogi | 2013 | |
| Win | 52–6–1 |  Hideki Sekine | Submission (kimura) | ADCC 2013 | +99 kg | Nogi | 2013 | |
| Win | 51–6–1 | Jimmy Friedrich | Submission (toe hold) | ADCC 2013 | +99 kg | Nogi | 2013 | |
| Win | 50–6–1 | Rodolfo Vieira | Points (10–0) | World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2013 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 49–6–1 | Alexander Trans | Referee Decision | World Championship | +100 kg | Gi | 2013 | |
| Win | 48–6–1 | Igor Silva | Referee Decision | World Championship | +100 kg | Gi | 2013 | |
| Win | 47–6–1 | Bernardo Faria | Points (7–4) | World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2013 | |
| Win | 46–6–1 | Ricardo Evangelista | Submission (ezekiel choke) | World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2013 | |
| Win | 45–6–1 | Bruno Bastos | Submission (triangle choke) | World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2013 | |
| Win | 44–6–1 | Flavius Luis | Submission (kimura) | World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2013 | |
| Win | 43–6–1 | Rodolfo Vieira | Points (4–2) | World Cup | Absolute | Gi | 2013 | Abu Dhabi |
| Win | 42–6–1 | Tarsis Humphreys | Points | World Cup | Absolute | Gi | 2013 | |
| Win | 41–6–1 | Roberto Abreu | Points (4–3) | World Cup | Absolute | Gi | 2013 | |
| Loss | 40–6–1 | Rodrigo Cavaca | Points (2=7) | World Cup | +100 kg | Gi | 2013 | |
| Win | 40–5–1 | Ricardo Evangelista | Points (2–0) | World Cup | +100 kg | Gi | 2013 | |
| Win | 39–5–1 | André Galvão | Points (4–2) | Pan American Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2013 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 38–5–1 | Bernardo Faria | Points (9–2) | |||||
| Win | 37–5–1 | Gustavo Campos | Points (19–2) | |||||
| Win | 36–5–1 | Marcel Goulart | Submission (inverted triangle) | Absolute | ||||
| Draw | 35–5–1 | Roger Gracie | Decision | Metamoris | Superfight | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 35–5 | Leo Nogueira | Points (8–4) | World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2012 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 34–5 | Márcio Cruz | Points (4–2) | World Championship | +100 kg | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 33–5 | Igor Silva | Submission (kneebar) | World Championship | +100 kg | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 32–5 | Alex Soares | Submission (choke) | World Championship | +100 kg | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 31–5 | Bernardo Faria | Submission (Choke) | World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 30–5 | Rodolfo Vieira | Points (8–7) | World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 29–5 | Roberto Alencar | Submission (triangle choke) | World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 28–5 | Raymond Warren | Submission (armbar) | World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 27–5 | Antonio Braga Neto | Submission (footlock) | World Cup | +99 kg | Gi | 2012 | Abu Dhabi |
| Win | 26–5 | José Junior | Submission (armbar) | World Cup | +99 kg | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 25–5 | Thiago Souza | Points (2–0) | World Cup | +99 kg | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 24–5 | Mike Wilson | Points (15–0) | World Cup | +99 kg | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 23–5 | Adrian Nalito | Submission (toe hoke) | Gramado Trials | +94 kg | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 22–5 | Alexander Trans | Points (2–0) | Pan American Championship | +99 kg | Gi | 2012 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 21–5 | Kitner Moura | Submission (omoplata) | Pan American Championship | +99 kg | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 20–5 | Kron Gracie | Submission (kneebar) | Pan American Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 19–5 | Murilo Santana | Points (10–0) | Pan American Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 18–5 | Matt Jubera | Submission (choke) | Pan American Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 17–5 | Marcus Alentari | Submission (armbar) | Pan American Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 16–5 | Leandro Lo | Points | CBJJE Pan Ams | Absolute | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 15–5 | Claudio Calasans | Points | CBJJE Pan Ams | Absolute | Gi | 2012 | |
| Win | 14–5 | Antonio Peinado | Submission (darce choke) | Nogi World Championship | +97.5 kg | Nogi | 2011 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 13–5 |  Joackim Hallum | Submission | Nogi World Championship | +97.5 kg | Nogi | 2011 | |
| Win | 12–5 | Alberto Vilanova | Submission (triangle choke) | Nogi World Championship | +97.5 kg | Nogi | 2011 | |
| Win | 11–5 | James Harbison | Submission (toe hold) | Nogi World Championship | Absolute | Nogi | 2011 | |
| Win | 10–5 | Marcelo Goncalves | Points (4–0) | Nogi World Championship | Absolute | Nogi | 2011 | |
| Win | 9–5 | Joackim Hallum | Points (24–2) | Nogi World Championship | Absolute | Nogi | 2011 | |
| Loss | 8–5 | André Galvão | Submission | World Cup Trials | Superfight | Gi | 2011 | |
| Loss | 8–4 | Vinny Magalhães | Submission (toe hold) | Ultimate Absolute NYC | Absolute | Nogi | July 30, 2011 | New York City, NY |
| Loss | 8–3 | Leo Nogueira | Referee Decision | IBJJF World Championship | –100 kg | Gi | 2011 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 8–2 | Antonio Peinado | Submission (toe hold) | World Championship | –100 kg | Gi | 2011 | |
| Win | 7–2 | Charles Dantas | Submission (wrist lock) | World Championship | –100 kg | Gi | 2011 | |
| Loss | 6–2 | Rodolfo Vieira | Submission (armbar) | World Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2011 | |
| Win | 6–1 | Antonio Braga Neto | Submission (bow & arrow choke) | World Championship | –100 kg | Gi | 2011 | |
| Win | 5–1 | Antonio Pega Leve | Submission (toe hold) | World Championship | –100 kg | Gi | 2011 | |
| Win | 4–1 | Charles Dantas | Submission | World Championship | –100 kg | Gi | 2011 | |
| Loss | 3–1 | Lúcio Rodrigues | Points (0–5) | World Cup | –92 kg | Gi | 2011 | Abu Dhabi |
| Win | 3–0 | Caio Alencar | Submission | World Cup | –92 kg | Gi | 2011 | |
| Win | 2–0 | Antonio Braga Neto | Submission (toe hold) | World Cup | –92 kg | Gi | 2011 | |
| Win | 1–0 | Bruno Bastos | Submission (cross choke) | Pan American Championship | –100 kg | Gi | 2011 | Long Beach, CA |
Mixed martial arts record
| 8 matches | 5 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | 5–2–1 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | Draw (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Royval vs. Kape | December 13, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Nzechukwu was deducted one point in round 2 due to an eye poke. |
| Loss | 5–2 | Martin Buday | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder | July 26, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 5–1 | Amir Aliakbari | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE 169 | November 9, 2024 | 1 | 3:15 | Bangkok, Thailand | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 4–1 | Oumar Kane | Decision (unanimous) | ONE Fight Night 13 | August 5, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| Win | 4–0 | Kirill Grishenko | Submission (heel hook) | ONE on Prime Video 1 | August 27, 2022 | 1 | 1:04 | Kallang, Singapore | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 3–0 | Simon Carson | TKO (punches) | ONE 158 | June 3, 2022 | 1 | 2:24 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 2–0 | Kang Ji-won | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Winter Warriors | December 3, 2021 | 1 | 2:27 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 1–0 | Anderson Silva | Submission (north-south choke) | ONE: Revolution | September 24, 2021 | 1 | 2:55 | Kallang, Singapore | Heavyweight debut. |
Instructor lineage
Carlos Gracie Sr. > Carlson Gracie > Élcio Figueiredo > Rodrigo Cavaca > Marcus Almeida