No one has more jiu-jitsu world titles than Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, and all this probably wouldn’t have happened if the grappling legend had won the 2015 World IBJJF Championship.
Buchecha was looking to capture his fourth absolute gold medal — and eighth overall title — at that year’s Worlds and then make his transition to mixed martial arts. The grappler also had an ADCC title under his belt at the time, and would instantly become one of the hottest blue-chip prospects ever in MMA.
The Checkmat talent was changing his style on the mat, working more on guillotine chokes and wrestling techniques to prepare for an eventual move to cages.