The lack of strong sponsorship and the desire for new challenges is pushing more and more top Jiu-Jitsu athletes to move to MMA to further consolidate their careers beyond the financial side.
Examples of current top MMA fighters that came from sport Jiu-Jitsu: Jose Aldo, Fabricio Werdum, Ronaldo Jacare, Demian Maia, Bibiano Fernandes etc..
About to make this transition, 3x world absolute champion Marcus Buchecha is another one who will try to shine in mixed arts as much as he did in Jiu-Jitsu.
His big rival, Rodolfo Vieira is preparing his transition to MMA. He was in Japan last weekend to sign a contract with Japan based Real Fight Championship. His debut is planned for the beginning of 2016.
Last October, after winning his first ADCC title this year in the -99kgs final, Vieira was offered a pro MMA contract Real Fight Championship (where Kron Gracie made his debut).
Buchecha training with UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier
Buchecha spoke to TATAME about other names that may be going to the MMA, and also those who moved earlier and are successful.
“At the moment I know that Rodolfo has announced that he is going. I see who can do well in MMA: Tanquinho, Lovato …. Who always encouraged me much was the ‘Antonio Cara de Sapato’, for I have grown up with him in Jiu-Jitsu, we were promoted together in belts at the same time, and he moved to MMA and is doing well. There is also Durinho, David Ramos, so that is only the more incentive for those of us who want to start “.
One of the strongest names that will compete in MMA in the near future is Rodolfo Vieira. Buchecha approves of his friend’s move to mixed martial arts and believes he has everything to succeed in the sport:
“I’m sure he’ll do very well, he has proven it in his career in Jiu-Jitsu. He won many world titles, won absolute and category. He also won ADCC, won a 40 minute fight in the end, showed a lot of guts and heart. For him to have a good solid Jiu-Jitsu and be very aggressive, I think he’ll be fine, and I’ll be cheering for him, sure.”
