‘Buchecha’ set for ONE Championship debut in September

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace was supposed to make his debut earlier this year. 

The promotional debut of Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida under the ONE Championship banner has been set.

Guilherme Cruz and Damon Martin of MMA Fighting have reported that Almeida is expected to meet an undefeated heavyweight in Thomas Narmo at ONE Championship: Revolution currently scheduled for September in Singapore. So far, the fight between Almeida and Narmo is the only one announced for the upcoming event.

Almeida is well-known for his prowess in the grappling sphere, becoming a 13-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion over the course of his storied career. There were talks about a transition into mixed martial arts, however nothing was made official until last year when ‘Buchecha’ revealed he signed a multi-year deal to compete in the heavyweight division of ONE Championship. It was said that Almeida would train with Evolve MMA in Singapore, but he has since been working with American Top Team in South Florida.

Almeida was reportedly supposed to have his first fight opposite of Senegalese sensation Oumar Kane — better known as ‘Reug Reug’ — in February, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. He was then booked against another undefeated heavyweight in Ji Won Kang at ONE on TNT 2 in April. That fight would also be canceled after Kang withdrew due to undisclosed reasons and Almeida was pulled from the event altogether.

Almeida now meets Narmo, who made his promotional debut at ONE Championship: Battleground II against Alain Ngalani in a fight that was recently aired this past Friday. It resulted in a no-contest after Narmo was left unable to continue after being hit with an accidental groin strike by Ngalani. Prior to that unfortunate ending, ‘The Last Viking’ was on a four-fight win streak, with all of them coming by way of stoppage.

ONE Championship: Revolution takes place on Friday, Sept. 24 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.