One Championship refuses to schedule decorated BJJ champion: ‘People are asking me lately if I retired’

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Decorated jiu-jitsu fighter and Heavyweight MMA prospect Marcus Almeida (4-1) has a problem with One Championship.

Better known as “Buchecha,” is a multiple-time world champion in Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) and the gi worlds. He’s one of the most accomplished Heavyweight grapplers of the last 20 years, and there was a fair amount of hype behind him when he signed with One Championship to begin his MMA career. Almeida won his first four bouts before coming up short to Senegalese wrestler Reug Reug in a hilarious fight.

The battle with Reug Reug went down August 2023, and Almeida hasn’t fought since then. Earlier on Thursday, Almeida posted to social media to complain about the unwanted layoff. According to “Buchecha,” he’s been asking for a fight but has been sidelined so long that people are asking if he’s retired.

“A lot of people are asking me lately if I retired,” he began. “The answer is of course not, the reason I’m not fighting it’s not my choice, I’ve been out waiting for a fight for almost one year but I don’t have luck getting a fight, that’s the reason I’m away from cage or the mats. The right question you should ask me is when I’m fighting again? But right now I’m asking to some people the same thing, to be more precise 13 months. It’s been 13 months of waiting, to be in a situation like that it’s sucks, I don’t wish this to anybody! So if you want this answer, you know who to ask and tag! [One Championship]”

Unfortunately, Buchecha is not alone in having problems with One. The promotion has shifted away from MMA, holding more and more Muay Thai fights. Many theorize that it’s an attempt to keep costs down to improve financial numbers for their next round of fundraising. It’s not just cage fighters either. Pound-for-pound kickboxing king, Chingiz Allazov, is actively feuding with the promotion online and recently announced his intent to fight elsewhere despite his contract with One.

At 34 years of age, Buchecha doesn’t have time to sit around forever. Hopefully, he’s booked sooner than later.

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