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Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend and ONE Championship heavyweight, is itching to get back in the cage. However, despite his eagerness to fight, Buchecha claims the promotion has left him waiting for nearly a year.
Buchecha, a 13-time IBJJF world champion and two-time ADCC gold medalist, last fought in August 2023. His fight against Oumar "Reug Reug" Kane ended in a hard-fought decision loss, a brawl that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Before that, Buchecha was 4-0 in his MMA career, securing all victories via first-round stoppages, taking out names like Anderson "Braddock" Silva, Ji Won Kang, Simon Carson, and Kirill Grishenko under the ONE banner. Yet, since that wild clash with Kane, the 32-year-old has been left out in the cold.
Fans have been curious about Buchecha’s absence, even questioning if he had retired from the sport. Buchecha took to social media to clear the air, saying,
“A lot of people are asking me lately if I retired. The answer is of course not, the reason I’m not fighting is not my choice. I’ve been out waiting for a fight for almost one year, but I don’t have luck getting a fight.”
What stings even more for the Brazilian is that he feels stuck in limbo.
“It’s been 13 months of waiting. To be in a situation like this sucks, I don’t wish this on anybody!” he added.
His frustration is palpable, and it’s clear he wants to take control of his destiny. He’s even urging fans to pressure ONE Championship to get him back in the cage, adding.
“If you want the answer, you know who to ask and tag ONE Championship.”
Support for Buchecha has flooded in, particularly from his American Top Team teammates. Even ATT coach Marcos Parrumpa didn’t hold back, calling ONE Championship the “worst show ever” and boldly saying,
“Please release him. We want to see him in a good show.”
While the clock keeps ticking, the question remains—when will Buchecha get the fight he’s been waiting for?
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