Legendary Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida recently shared his perspective on the greatest BJJ athletes of all time during a podcast. With 13 BJJ world titles and numerous other accolades under his black belt, Buchecha is considered one of the sport’s all-time greats himself.
When asked who he believes is the greatest BJJ athlete ever, Buchecha said it’s hard to narrow it down to just one person. However, he named a few legends who stand out in his mind:
Roger Gracie – Buchecha cited Roger’s technical mastery and ability to seemingly always find a way to submit his opponents. With 10 BJJ world titles, Roger is considered by many to be the greatest competitor ever.
Rodolfo Vieira – Currently competing in MMA, Rodolfo had one of the most dominant runs in BJJ during his competition career. His pressure passing, guard attacks, and finishing ability make his style very effective.
Leandro Lo – The late Leandro Lo was known for his dynamic, well-rounded game and exciting style. He was a close friend of Buchecha’s before his tragic passing.
While naming those three athletes, Buchecha added that the deceased Rolls Gracie deserves special recognition as an innovator who helped shape modern BJJ. He also gave respect to the legendary Rickson Gracie.
It’s clear from Buchecha’s perspective that the Gracie family and their students have dominated much of BJJ’s competition history at the highest levels. With the sport constantly evolving, the next generation of all-time greats could emerge from other teams around the world. But the aforementioned legends have left an indelible mark as the foundational giants of the sport.
