The debate about who deserves the title of “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) has been a passionate topic among fans and practitioners. Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, one of the most decorated BJJ competitors in history with 13 IBJJF World Championships, recently shared his perspective on this debate during an interview on the Connect Cast podcast.
When directly asked about who he considers the GOAT among himself, Roger Gracie, and Gordon Ryan, Buchecha didn’t hesitate in his response:
“I think Roger.”
Buchecha explained his reasoning, highlighting Roger Gracie‘s remarkable accomplishments and resilience:
“Because Roger did what he did, he gave his face with Gi, he won the world titles there.”
He emphasized how Roger‘s career path differed from his own, noting that
“it was very different from my career because he lost a lot and he continued, he managed to win, he persisted, persisted, and he managed to win the titles.”
Previously Marcelo Garcia, Rodrigo Comprido and Demian Maia all weighed in on the debate.
What particularly impressed Buchecha about Roger‘s legacy was his dominance in competition:
“In that half time, he won all the fights. I think it’s a fact that no one did – he finished everyone.”
This reference is to Roger‘s perfect record of submitting every opponent at the 2009 IBJJF World Championships, a feat that remains unmatched in the sport’s history.
Beyond his accomplishments in gi competition, Buchecha admired Roger‘s willingness to test himself across different realms of combat sports:
“Roger went there, fought in MMA… it’s a guy who left the comfort zone, so he tested himself in the Gi, in MMA, fought in all the organizations, even though he didn’t like MMA.”
This willingness to step outside one’s comfort zone resonates deeply with Buchecha, who has himself transitioned from BJJ to MMA in recent years.
“How can I not respect him if I don’t say he’s the GOAT?”
Buchecha‘s perspective comes from someone who has faced and defeated many of the sport’s greatest competitors, including multiple matches with Rodolfo Vieira (whom he described as “the biggest opponent I had”) and Leandro Lo, who he called his “brother.” He also notably fought two high-profile matches against Roger Gracie himself, with each winning one contest.
While fans may continue to debate whether Buchecha, Roger, or the more recent dominant force Gordon Ryan deserves the GOAT title, Buchecha‘s respect for Roger‘s accomplishments and willingness to challenge himself across different combat sports disciplines clearly places Roger at the top of his personal ranking.
