Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, widely regarded as one of the greatest jiu-jitsu practitioners of all time, recently opened up about his true passion in martial arts during his appearance on the JAXXON Podcast alongside Arman Tsarukyan and Mayhem Miller.
Despite transitioning to MMA and competing at the highest level, the 13-time jiu-jitsu world champion revealed that his heart still belongs to the traditional form of the sport.
“I like to train more in the gi. I think it’s more fun for me,” Buchecha explained when asked about his preference between gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu. “Of course, because of MMA now, I’m training a lot of no-gi, but if you ask me, my real passion is the gi.”
This revelation might surprise some fans who have been following his successful transition to MMA, where he’s been showcasing his grappling skills without the gi. However, Buchecha‘s roots in traditional Brazilian jiu-jitsu run deep, having dominated the competitive scene for years before making the switch to mixed martial arts.
“If he’s a striker, I’m going to wrestle him. If he’s a good wrestler, I’m going to strike him. Simple, tic-tac-toe.”
This approach has served him well in his MMA career thus far.
During the podcast, Buchecha also shared his thoughts on who has the best jiu-jitsu in the UFC currently, naming Charles Oliveira, Gilbert Burns, and Demian Maia as standouts, noting that Burns in particular is “one guy that uses his jiu-jitsu really well.”
As Buchecha continues his MMA journey, his comments serve as a reminder of the deep connection many grapplers maintain with traditional gi jiu-jitsu, even as they evolve in the sport of mixed martial arts.
