Seasoned athlete Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida recently revealed an insightful perspective. He stated that competing in mixed martial arts brings less pressure compared to his traditional focus of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

A legendary figure in BJJ, Buchecha emphasized the strategic flexibility permitted within the multifaceted sport of mixed martial arts.

Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, the 33-year old athlete shifted his attention to MMA upon joining ONE Championship in September 2021. Despite an impressive record of four victories in his first five matches, Buchecha acknowledges the ongoing learning process and welcomes it openly.

In a candid interview on the Jaxxon Podcast, Buchecha shared: “I tried to maintain the same mindset I had when competing in jiu-jitsu. I aim to keep that mindset. However, honestly, MMA competition causes me less nerves because there isn’t as much pressure as when I was one of the top jiu-jitsu athletes.”

Buchecha last competed in August against Senegalese boxer Oumar Kane, where he was defeated by unanimous decision. This marked his first MMA loss, having previously won his first four bouts by first round finishes.

Buchecha acknowledged the difficult defeat but also pledged to return stronger. He stated he would draw inspiration from the loss to continue working towards his MMA objectives.

A member of the renowned American Top Team, Buchecha sheds light on his unwavering commitment to honing his MMA skills. In an interview with ONE Championship last year, he discussed maintaining consistency in his training regimen and satisfaction from progress made so far.

Buchecha said: “I train all aspects. I really enjoy training wrestling, jiu-jitsu which will always be my specialty, and striking. Nothing has changed. I keep up the same training. The focus is on being well-rounded. I am feeling pretty good.”