The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight division is in desperate need of a shot in the arm—and Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida might be the man to deliver it. With the division in its worst state since the Tim Sylvia era, the arrival of fresh, high-level talent like Buchecha couldn’t come at a better time.
This weekend (Sat., July 26, 2025), Buchecha makes his highly anticipated UFC debut against top 13-ranked Martin Buday at UFC Abu Dhabi inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and a win could
skyrocket him into contender status, making this signing one of the most exciting in recent memory.
If you’re unfamiliar with Buchecha, here’s a quick refresher.
He’s a 17-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished grapplers in the sport’s history. A fourth-degree black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca, he dominated the international BJJ scene for over a decade, securing multiple IBJJF World titles, Pan American championships, and two ADCC gold medals. His ability to combine speed, fluidity, and pressure—despite being a true heavyweight—made him a nightmare on the mats. Simply put: Buchecha didn’t just win; he made elite black belts look average.
After his historic grappling career, Buchecha transitioned to mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2021, having teased the move as early as 2015. Signed to a multi-year contract with ONE Championship, he competed six times, going 5-1 with all victories by first-round finish. His sole loss came against current ONE Championship Heavyweight champion Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane.
Following his final ONE victory over Amir Aliakbari, Buchecha sat out the contract’s “matching period,” during which ONE could match offers from other promotions. Determined not to re-sign, he waited out the period before inking a deal with the UFC —doing so at the perfect moment as the Heavyweight division is starving for fresh, high-level talent.
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Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesWhat sets Buchecha apart from other jiu-jitsu specialists is his completeness in the cage. He’s not just diving for legs and hoping for the best—he closes distance with purpose, defends strikes intelligently, and dominates on the mat.
His MMA finishes include rear-naked chokes, north-south chokes, and brutal positional TKOs. Training full-time at American Top Team, he’s sharpened his wrestling and striking alongside elite talent across divisions.
Still, this is the Heavyweight division, where one clean punch can change everything. Can Buchecha withstand the bombs of a top-5 slugger like Sergei Pavlovich or even a Tai Tuivasa? Will his cardio hold up against someone like Waldo Cortes Acosta in deep waters?
Time will tell, but one thing is certain: Buchecha’s ceiling is sky-high —as one of, if not the most decorated heavyweight grappler to ever step into the UFC cage, he’s the new blood the division desperately needs.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Abu Dhabi fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card balance on ABC/ESPN (simulcast on ESPN+) at 3 p.m. ET.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC Abu Dhabi: “Whittaker vs. de Ridder” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
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