One of the most decorated athletes to ever transition from the competitive grappling scene to professional mixed martial arts is officially joining the ranks of the world`s premier promotion. Marcus `Buchecha` Almeida, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu phenom whose name is synonymous with dominance on the mats, has signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is slated for his highly anticipated organizational debut.
Sources close to the situation confirm that the heavyweight is set to make his first walk to the famed UFC Octagon on July 26th. The stage for this significant moment? The bustling fight hub of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with the clash expected to take place at the Etihad Arena. His initial opponent under the UFC banner will be Slovakian heavyweight Martin Buday.
Buchecha`s journey to the UFC follows a successful, albeit relatively brief, tenure under the ONE Championship banner, where he built his initial professional MMA record. For years prior, his life was dedicated to pure grappling, achieving a record 13 IBJJF World Championship black belt titles and securing two ADCC gold medals. These staggering accomplishments firmly place him among the greatest submission artists of all time, prompting considerable interest in his transition to the four-ounce gloves and cage environment.
His professional MMA ledger currently stands at a formidable 5-1. Notably, all five of his victories have come by way of finish, showcasing the potent threat his grappling and ground striking pose. His most recent appearance was in November 2024, where he quickly dispatched Amir Aliakbari via submission, marking his return after a 15-month layoff. The sole blemish on his MMA career to date is a 2023 decision loss against fellow grappling-based heavyweight “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane.
Welcoming Buchecha to the heavyweight division will be Martin Buday, a fighter with considerable experience under the UFC lights. Buday holds a respectable 6-1 record within the promotion, contributing to his overall professional record of 15-2. He has demonstrated consistency, securing decision victories in his two most recent outings against veterans like Andrei Arlovski and Uran Satybaldiev. His last loss came via stoppage in December 2023.
The addition of Buchecha to the July 26th Abu Dhabi card adds another layer of intrigue to what is shaping up to be a noteworthy international fight night. The event is already expected to feature another prominent figure from ONE Championship history, with former two-division titleholder Reinier de Ridder scheduled to make his third UFC appearance against former UFC middleweight kingpin Robert Whittaker in the main event. Buchecha`s debut adds further weight to a card designed to capture global attention.
The grappling world, and indeed the wider MMA community, will undoubtedly be keenly observing how the decorated jiu-jitsu king navigates the challenging waters of the UFC heavyweight division, beginning with his test against Martin Buday in the Middle East.
