Hello, mixed martial artist fans! If you love following the MMA and admire world-class, Marcus Buchecha is a name you’ll recognize instantly. Marcus Buchecha stands as one of the most decorated athletes in combat sports history. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of his personal information.
Marcus Buchecha’s Biography
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Marcus Vinícius Oliveira de Almeida |
| Nickname | Buchecha |
| Date of Birth | January 8, 1990 |
| Current Age | 35 years old |
| Birthplace | São Vicente, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 6’3″ (190-192 cm) |
| Weight | 259 lbs (117-118 kg) |
| College | N/A |
| Religion | N/A |
| Turned Professional (BJJ) | 2010 (promoted to black belt on the podium after winning brown belt worlds) |
| Turned Professional (MMA) | 2021 |
| Current Net Worth (2025) | Approximately $1-5 million |
| Current Salary | ONE Championship contract |
| Spouse | Single |
| Children | N/A |
| Instagram Profile | @marcusbuchecha |
Early Career
Marcus Buchecha didn’t start jiu-jitsu as a child prodigy but rather stumbled into the sport by accident. When his older sister Ana began training at 15 years old, their father Cleiton decided to accompany her to the academy to supervise. His father then started training himself, and eventually convinced young Marcus to join at age 14. Initially, Marcus was more interested in football and surfing, but watching his sister dominate him on the mats drove him crazy enough to commit fully to jiu-jitsu.
His early years were humbling – he actually lost his first eight BJJ tournaments all in the first round. However, instead of quitting, Marcus used these defeats as fuel to train harder. His persistence paid off as he progressed through the belt ranks, eventually receiving his black belt directly from the podium after winning the 2010 Brown Belt World Championship. This moment marked the official start of his professional BJJ career and set him on a path to becoming the greatest heavyweight grappler in history.
Professional Career
Marcus Buchecha’s rise to dominance in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu began immediately after earning his black belt in 2010. Between 2012 and 2019, he established himself as the most decorated competitor in IBJJF history by winning 13 World Championships – more than any other athlete in the sport. He particularly dominated the heavyweight and absolute (open weight) divisions, capturing six absolute world titles and shattering Roger Gracie’s previous record of three.
His technical mastery combined with explosive athleticism and strategic wrestling made him virtually unstoppable against the world’s best heavyweights. Beyond the IBJJF stage, Buchecha also claimed two ADCC World Championship titles and numerous Abu Dhabi Pro victories, cementing his legacy across all major grappling competitions.
After nearly two decades of ruling the BJJ world, Buchecha made the highly anticipated transition to mixed martial arts in 2021, signing with ONE Championship at age 30. He has since competed professionally in MMA with a record of 5-2, facing formidable opponents while continuing to teach and mentor the next generation of grapplers.
Marcus Buchecha’s Net Worth Details
Based on available information from multiple sources, Marcus Buchecha’s estimated net worth in 2025 ranges between $1-5 million. This wealth comes from several income streams including prize money from BJJ competitions, sponsorship deals, appearance fees, and his MMA contract with ONE Championship. His BJJ career was particularly lucrative during peak years – he won significant prize money from IBJJF World Championships, Abu Dhabi Pro competitions (which paid $10,000-$40,000 per tournament), and private seminars he conducted worldwide.
His transition to MMA with ONE Championship provides additional income through fight purses, though the exact contract value has not been publicly disclosed. His UFC debut fight against Martin Buday in July 2025 came with a base salary of $12,000 guaranteed, with potential bonuses and sponsorship money bringing the total possible earnings to $78,000 for that particular fight. Brand partnerships with major companies like Shoyoroll and RVCA contribute to his revenue stream through apparel and collaboration deals.
Fight Purses
| Opponent | Event | Date | Result | Round | Purse Details |
| Martin Buday | UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder | July 26, 2025 | Loss (Decision) | 3 | $12,000 guaranteed (UFC debut) |
| Amir Aliakbari | ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug | November 8, 2024 | Win (RNC R1) | 1 | ONE Championship contract (undisclosed) |
| Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane | ONE Fight Night 13: Allazov vs. Grigorian | August 5, 2023 | Loss (Decision) | 3 | ONE Championship contract (undisclosed) |
| Kirill Grishenko | ONE on Prime Video 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II | August 26, 2022 | Win (Heel Hook R1) | 1 | ONE Championship contract (undisclosed) |
| Simon Carson | ONE Championship 158: Tawanchai vs. Larsen | June 3, 2022 | Win (TKO R1) | 1 | ONE Championship contract (undisclosed) |
| Ji Won Kang | ONE Championship: Winter Warriors | December 3, 2021 | Win (RNC R1) | 1 | ONE Championship contract (undisclosed) |
| Anderson “Braddock” Silva | ONE Championship: Revolution | September 24, 2021 | Win (North-South Choke R1) | 1 | ONE Championship contract (undisclosed) |
Endorsements
- Shoyoroll – Premium Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu apparel brand partnership since 2017
- RVCA – Collaborated on the “Absolute King” collection featuring a signature gi designed with LA street artist DEFER
- Muscle Pharm – Supplement sponsorship
- OP Recovery – Sports recovery and treatment products
- RV Casport – Jiu-Jitsu equipment and gear sponsor
- Santos Studios – Apparel collaboration
- Jaxxon – Equipment sponsorship
Career Records
| Opponent | Result | Method | Round | Time | Event Date | Division |
| Martin Buday | Loss | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | July 26, 2025 | Heavyweight |
| Amir Aliakbari | Win | Submission (RNC) | 1 | 3:15 | Nov 8, 2024 | Heavyweight |
| Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane | Loss | Unanimous Decision | 3 | 5:00 | Aug 5, 2023 | Heavyweight |
| Kirill Grishenko | Win | Submission (Heel Hook) | 1 | 1:04 | Aug 26, 2022 | Heavyweight |
| Simon Carson | Win | KO/TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:24 | June 3, 2022 | Heavyweight |
| Ji Won Kang | Win | Submission (RNC) | 1 | 2:27 | Dec 3, 2021 | Heavyweight |
| Anderson “Braddock” Silva | Win | Submission (North-South Choke) | 1 | 2:55 | Sept 24, 2021 | Heavyweight |
FAQs
1. What does “Buchecha” mean, and why is Marcus called that?
“Buchecha” is a Portuguese word meaning “chubby cheeks.” Marcus earned this nickname from his instructor Rodrigo Cavaca when he first started training BJJ as a teenager. At the time, Marcus was carrying extra weight and had prominent cheeks, which led to the playful nickname that stuck with him throughout his career.
2. How many times has Marcus Buchecha won the IBJJF World Championship?
Marcus Buchecha has won 13 IBJJF World Championship titles in total, making him the most decorated competitor in the history of the sport. This includes six absolute (open weight) divisions and seven weight division championships. He set this record in 2019 and surpassed Roger Gracie’s previous record of three absolute world titles.
3. Did Marcus Buchecha ever compete against Roger Gracie, and what was the result?
Yes, Marcus Buchecha competed against Roger Gracie at the Metamoris Pro Invitational (a prestigious super fight). The match took place under submission-only rules and ended in a draw, which was considered a great achievement for Buchecha as Roger Gracie is a 10-time world champion and considered a BJJ legend. This super fight helped establish Buchecha as one of the elite grapplers in the world.
4. How long did Marcus Buchecha compete in BJJ before transitioning to MMA?
Marcus Buchecha received his black belt in 2010 and competed professionally in BJJ for 11 years before making his MMA debut in September 2021. During this time, he accumulated 13 world titles and became arguably the greatest heavyweight grappler in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history. At the time of his transition to MMA, he was 31 years old.
5. Why did Marcus Buchecha transition to MMA in 2021?
Marcus Buchecha explained that he wanted to test himself in a new challenge and prove he could be a complete mixed martial artist, not just a jiu-jitsu specialist. He had been training for MMA since around 2015 but waited for the right opportunity. When manager Ali Abdelaziz partnered with ONE Championship, the timing felt right for Buchecha to make his professional MMA debut. He stated that he wanted to showcase his improvements in boxing, wrestling, and overall striking to demonstrate he wasn’t solely reliant on his submission game.
6. What is Marcus Buchecha’s MMA record, and how is he performing in fights?
As of late 2024, Marcus Buchecha holds a professional MMA record of 5-2-0 (five wins and two losses). His first five fights in ONE Championship were incredibly impressive, with him winning all four of his early bouts by first-round finishes (three submissions and one TKO). However, he suffered his first loss to Senegalese wrestler Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane in August 2023, which was a unanimous decision loss. He returned to win against Amir Aliakbari in November 2024 but lost his UFC debut to Martin Buday in July 2025.
7. Was Marcus Buchecha ever in a relationship with Mackenzie Dern?
There was speculation and rumors in 2017 that Marcus Buchecha and Mackenzie Dern (another multiple-time BJJ world champion) were dating. The rumors were fueled by Instagram posts, their presence together at BJJ events, and aligned travel schedules. However, neither Buchecha nor Dern ever officially confirmed the relationship. Both have since moved on to other relationships, and as of 2024, Mackenzie Dern is dating Brazilian MMA fighter Antonio Trócoli.
8. How many Instagram followers does Marcus Buchecha have?
Marcus Buchecha has approximately 546,800 followers on Instagram (@marcusbuchecha), making him one of the most-followed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes on the platform. His following has grown significantly since his transition to MMA, as fans from both the BJJ and MMA communities follow his career progress and training content.
9. What teams and academies has Marcus Buchecha trained at?
Marcus Buchecha is primarily affiliated with Checkmat BJJ Academy under the leadership of coach Rodrigo Cavaca and later Leo Vieira. For his MMA career, he trains at American Top Team (ATT) and Evolve Mixed Martial Arts in Singapore (which has a partnership with ONE Championship). These teams have helped him develop his complete fighting skillset while maintaining his world-class grappling abilities.
10. Has Marcus Buchecha competed in the UFC, and how did his debut go?
Yes, Marcus Buchecha made his UFC debut in July 2025 against Martin Buday at UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder. Unfortunately, he lost the fight via unanimous decision in the third round. This was his first fight in the UFC after spending several years competing in ONE Championship, where he was 4-1 before his loss to Reug Reug in 2023. Despite the loss, the performance was considered competitive, and it marked an important step in his MMA career development.