3x World absolute champion Marcus Buchecha Almeida had announced last month that his transition to MMA would happen sooner than many people expected.
Buchecha underwent surgery last August in Brazil for the knee injury that he sustained against Ricardo Evangelista during their 3rd round encounter at the Worlds back in May.
The surgery was to reconstruct the torn ACL ligament on his left knee. Buchecha’s doctor gave the champion a minimum of five months before coming back to 100% again.
Evangelista injured Buchecha as he went he went for a waiter sweep from half guard. Buchecha had to withdraw from the rest of the tournament.
Buchecha missed ADCC 2015 held in Sao Paulo in August.
He has won everything in BJJ: 6x world champion at black belt, ADCC 2013 champion, 3x World Pro champion. Buchecha wants to focus on MMA as soon as the new year but also wants to compete in one last time in the Jiu-Jitsu World championship, before exchanging the Gi for the MMA gloves, just like his friend Rodolfo Vieira.
Buchecha told Tatame:
“I want to compete in another Worlds. I do not want my last memory from Jiu-Jitsu at the venue where I won many world titles, to be me coming off injured on a stretcher. Recovery from knee surgery is going very well. I’m halfway through the treatment. At first it was difficult, but now I’m better. Between January and February I’ll be back to normal activities, will be already allowed to train and to prepare for the championships. My physiotherapist, Bruno Brito, Health Integrated Santos and Dr. Caio D’Elia, orthopedic doctor Vita Institute are following me closely and this has been very important in recovery. I have no doubt that I will return to 110% from the injury.”
