Back after 15-month layoff, Marcus Buchecha enters free agency after ONE 169

Marcus Buchecha finally re-enters the ONE Championship ring on Friday to face Amir Aliakbari in Bangkok in what could be his last walk to the ring in Asia

Speaking with MMA Fighting ahead of ONE 169, the jiu-jitsu legend said the winner of his clash with Aliakbari could determine who’s next in line for the heavyweight belt—on the line later that night between Anatoly Malykhin and “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane. However, as it is the final bout of Buchecha’s contract with the organization, he might not stick around to find out.

“This fight will give me leverage,” Buchecha said, “So I’ll focus 100 percent on this fight and then discuss better terms. This is the goal.”

Buchecha publicly complained about a lack of fights in early September, saying “I’ve been out waiting for a fight for almost one year.” The Brazilian heavyweight has been inactive since August of 2023, when he suffered his first loss in the sport against “Reug Reug.” ONE booked him versus Aliakbari shortly after his post.

Asked if his long layoff will be taken into consideration when he has to decide whether or not re-sign with ONE, Buchecha said “you can’t cry over spilled milk,” noting he is fully focused on the task ahead of him.

“I hope to talk to you again on Saturday and definitely talk about the future, but my goal right now is Friday,” Buchecha said. “It obviously wasn’t my decision [to stay out for over a year] but I was in the gym, training and evolving in every aspect as an athlete on the feet, in wrestling, in jiu-jitsu. I feel a much better fighter now than I was last time I entered the ring.

“The actual fight [with Kane] was a great experience. I won’t be a hypocrite and say it was the result I wanted, of course not, but it turned out to be great experience. After that fight, plus the 15 months [of training], it added a lot to my career as a MMA athlete. I learned a lot about a Buchecha I didn’t know. It was good to learn to control my emotions in bad and good situations.”

For now, all Buchecha wants is to stop Aliakbari’s four-fight winning streak and enter free agency on a high note.

“He has a good background in Greco-Roman wrestling and he’s one of the two heavyweights I haven’t fought yet, him and Anatoly,” Buchecha said. “I think it’s going to be a very interesting fight to watch, a clash of grapplers.

“He has heavy hands, but his background is in wrestling. If the fight goes to the ground, I’m ready. If it stays on the feet, I’m ready. I don’t care what he wants to do, I’m focused on my goal and my plan.”