Marcus Almeida is a 17-time Brazilian jiujitsu world champion and with six of these titles achieved within the open-weight class, “Buchecha” (that means “cheek”) is an undoubtedly record-holding icon of the game.
Having dominated BJJ for over a decade, the 32-year-old signed with ONE Championship in 2020 to start his MMA profession, and will likely be trying to enhance on his already spectacular 3-0-0 report when he faces Kirill Grishenko (5-1-0) in the course of the promotion’s extremely anticipated return to Amazon Prime Video.
Marcus Almeida sat down with M&F to debate the harm that delayed his MMA debut, the way it made him a greater fighter in the long term, and why he’s having fun with life in a brand new sport.
Congratulations with how issues have been going at ONE. How are you feeling proper now?
I’m feeling actually nice. I’m going into my fourth struggle and acquired the job performed on the earlier struggle (in opposition to Simon Carson), so I’m actually snug proper now within the new sport. I’m actually having fun with the trip.
You first began speaking about making the transition to MMA in 2015, nevertheless it was 2021 whenever you lastly debuted with ONE Championship. I assume life had different plans, proper?
Yeah, 2015 was after I was planning to struggle my final (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) championship, however sadly I acquired harm and I tore my left knee, and I needed to [have] surgical procedure and that took me a yr to return again. So, then all my plans modified due to the surgical procedure and in my head, I needed to come again and struggle jiujitsu once more as a result of leaving the sector like that wasn’t the final reminiscence that I wished to have in Jiu-Jitsu. I got here again, I fought, in 2016 I gained however I wasn’t so dominant [and I thought], you already know what? I can squeeze in yet another yr. Then yet another yr, and yet another yr, till 2019, in order that’s after I ended up breaking all of the data and turning into the largest champion (of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu championship). In 2020, I felt that my mission was performed in the Jiu-Jitsu sport and competitors, so I don’t have the rest to show and it’s time to maneuver on, it’s time to go to MMA as a result of I all the time wished to, and right here we’re.
Do you suppose that you just continued with BJJ in order that you possibly can gauge how the knee harm was therapeutic, and did the method really assist to make you a greater fighter?
Oh yeah, completely, as a result of the harm modified me a lot. After the harm, it changes the person, the athlete, all the pieces as a result of it made me take a look at all the pieces with a special standpoint. In fact, I wouldn’t be assured to kick with my left leg (in MMA) straight away after the surgical procedure, so staying in Jiu-Jitsu gave me the arrogance again that I wanted. Now, after I’m coaching, I don’t even give it some thought anymore.
Did the harm pressure you to learn to develop into a extra defensive fighter?
Yeah, my recreation modified a lot. Earlier than the surgical procedure I used to go ahead, prefer to assault a lot with leg locks and foot locks, however each time that you just assault any person’s foot, you kinda expose your foot. So after the surgical procedure I performed a a lot safer recreation to guard my knee, however then again I used to be matching everybody as a result of I used to be controlling a lot. I discovered tips on how to use my body weight so a lot better, and that’s when my passing and my strain recreation began getting higher, and I began arm-barring everybody (laughs). I believe 2016 was the yr I gained nearly each struggle by submission from an armbar.
Studying to not expose your self a lot should be an necessary lesson for serving to your profession in MMA?
You don’t wanna get uncovered and get actually harm so I believe the mindset kinda helped for this. The way in which that I used to be utilizing the jiujitsu (put up harm) is what I’m making an attempt to use to MMA as a result of I wish to use the strain. I wish to use my weight.
What’s it that you’re loving most about MMA?
I’ve been doing (BJJ) since I used to be 13 years outdated. It’s been nearly 20 years and so there may be not a lot change or pleasure in addition to the educational. MMA, for me, on daily basis is like one thing new. Every single day I’m studying quicker, so I see the distinction after each coaching [session]. In MMA, I really feel like a white belt in a brand new sport. There’s this fireplace to attempt one thing new.
In MMA, you should strike your opponent versus BJJ the place it’s principally disallowed. How have you ever discovered this transition?
After I got here to MMA, I did zero placing. I had some wrestling [experience] however now all the pieces is like ranging from scratch.
How are you engaged on growing the facility of your strikes?
Almeida: Being sincere, the coaching that I like a lot is the sparring classes. In fact, being a heavyweight, it’s important to watch out with the sparring classes. I practice with bag work, pads, however what I actually love to do is to go and put the gloves on and do a sparring session with one other large man, like me.
Your outdated BJJ rival Gordon Ryan has reportedly signed with ONE Championship however hasn’t fought but. Would you be eager about combating Ryan in an MMA setting if it was supplied?
Yeah. Being sincere, I don’t even know if he’s combating there anymore however in fact, for MMA I might struggle him and it will be a enjoyable match to do as a result of we’re each from a jiujitsu background. However now I’ve extra expertise than him. I’m going into my fourth MMA struggle and he doesn’t have any, so I believe it wouldn’t be the very best debut for him however it will be a enjoyable struggle and naturally, I might struggle him. I’m on the lookout for greater opponents who can put me in a greater place to struggle for the belt. That’s the purpose.
It’s an thrilling time to be a part of ONE Championship with occasions being broadcast on Amazon Prime Video. How do you are feeling about combating on that platform in opposition to Grishenko?
That’s an enormous step for the ONE group, for the athletes, and a fantastic alternative as a result of I believe [Amazon Prime Video] is without doubt one of the largest platforms on the planet and so this will likely be even larger, particularly for the U.S. viewers. We are able to present the best way that we see martial arts. We’re going on the market and making an attempt to point out our expertise with quite a lot of respect. That’s the entire level of the group and one of many explanation why I like ONE Championship a lot.
I’m all the time assured if I step on the market. I’ve the abilities. [Grishenko] is admittedly robust. He’s going to be the primary wrestler that I’ll struggle. Folks suppose that I gained’t go on the market and attempt to take him down however I’m an MMA fighter now. I do know that I’ve to strike, I’ve to do all the pieces, and that’s why I’m coaching a lot. I do know he’s prepared for me, and I’m prepared for him.
Marcus Almeida will struggle Grishenko on the primary card beneath Moraes vs. Johnson II, reside from the Singapore indoor Stadium from 10pm EDT on August 26 by way of Amazon Prime Video 1. The lead card kicks issues off from 8pm EDT. Extra for information go to www.onefc.com.
