‘Buchecha’ is back: Marcus Almeida squeezes Amir Aliakbari into submission at ONE 169

November 8, 2024 9:57 pm ET

“Buchecha” is back.

For the first time since 2023, Marcus Almeida stepped into the cage Friday at ONE 169. For the first time since 2022, he won.

Almeida (5-1) handled opponent Amir Aliakbari (14-4) with relative ease as he secured a fight-ending rear-naked choke to win at 3:15 of Round 1. The bout took place at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

According to a report by MMA Fighting, Almeida is now a free agent. Prior to the fight, he expressed frustration with inactivity in an interview with MMA Junkie.

Clinical work from Marcus Buchecha. Strangles Aliakbari with ease in the first. Making a statement in his return to the ring #ONE169 pic.twitter.com/vki6CZK1vI

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 9, 2024

Almeida, 34, is a 4th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts with multiple World jiu-jitsu, IBJJF, and ADCC championships on his resume. He transitioned to pro MMA in 2021 and has maintained a 100 percent finishing rate in wins. His lone loss was a unanimous decision dropped to Reug Reug in August 2023.

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