Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida receives new opponent for ONE 157
Legendary jiu-jitsu competitor Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida is yet again slated to return to the ONE Championship cage. On Friday, May 20 at ONE 157, Almeida will take on seven-fight veteran Hugo Cunha.
Almeida confirmed the bout on Instagram.
Almeida was originally scheduled to face Senegalese wrestlign champion Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane on April 22, but that bout fell through following a Kane injury.
Almeida’s opponent, Cunha, is coming off the first loss of his professional career. Cunha won the first six bouts of his career, all by stoppage.
Joining Almeida on the ONE 157 card will be a pair of world-class submission grappling matches between Garry Tonon and Tye Ruotolo, and Shinya Aoki and Kade Ruotolo.
One of the most accomplished jiu-jitsu competitors ever, Almeida made his professional MMA debut in September 2021, defeating kickboxer Anderson “Braddock” Silva by first-round submission. In December 2021, Almeida picked up his second career win over Ji Won Kang — another rear-naked choke.
The 32-year old Almeida is a staggering 13-time IBJJF world champion, as well as a two-time ADCC world champion. He has not competed in grappling since his loss to Gordon Ryan in the finals of absolute division of the 2019 ADCC Championships.
