Marcus Almeida “Buchecha” (Checkmat)

Marcus Almeida “Buchecha” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca who is one of the stars in the super-heavyweight division of the sport. Before completing his twentieth birthday he was already being pointed out as the “next big thing” in BJJ, a claim he has confirmed with successive podium achievements in the black belt divisions.

Marcus Almeida Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Marcos Vinicius Oliveira de Almeida

Nickname:“Buchecha” means cheek (face). Marcus’s instructor, Cavaca, nicknamed him that because when he first started training he was a bit overweight and his cheeks were prominent.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Élcio Figueiredo > Rodrigo Cavaca > Marcus Almeida

Main Achievements

• 4x World Champion (2010 brown & absolute, 2009 purple weight & absolute);
• 6x World Nogi Champion (2011 black weight & absolute, 2010 black weight & absolute, 2009 brown & absolute);
• 4x World Cup Champion (2009 brown – weight and absolute, 2008 blue – weight and absolute)
• Pan American Champion (2010 brown);
• World Pro Cup Champion (2012)
• SP Cup Champion (2010 WLPJJ)
• 2x Miami Open Champion (2010 black, weight & absolute);
• 3x Brazilian National Champion (2010 brown, weight & absolute, 2008 purple);
• Brazilian Teams Champion (2008 purple)
• World Silver Medallist (2011 black)

Weight Division: Super Pesado (up to 100kg-221lbs)

Favourite Position: Guard

Team/Association: Checkmat

Marcus Bochecha Merchandise:

• MKM Koral Competition Kimono Navy Blue

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida Biography

Marcus Almeida was born on the 8^th of January, 1990, in a town called Sao Vicente close to Santos in the state of Sao Paulo. As a child Marcus wanted to be a football (soccer) player, but he was not very good at it by his own admission. He then turned his sights on Surfing a sport he practiced from a young age.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu only came into “Buchecha’s” life in his mid teens. He was 14 years old when his sister first started training BJJ. Marcus’s father, Mr Cleiton Almeida, was very protective of his daughter, and started accompanying her to class. With time Mr Cleiton started practicing himself, and from there it wasn’t long until he was dragging his son Marcus with him. Luckily young Marcus loved Jiu Jitsu from the start and started training every chance he could.

Marcus’s physical abilities helped by the masterful eye of his instructor, BJJ World Champion Rodrigo Cavaca, soon turned Buchecha into one of the most feared athletes in the lower belt divisions, and after successive wins in the “Brasileiro”, Pan American, Sao Paulo Cup, Scandinavian Open and “Mundial”, Almeida received his black belt (while on the podium after his win at the World Championship in 2010), not long after his father was also awarded his black belt in BJJ. He moved to the United States with his master and his team mate Thiago “Baiano” Aragao in 2010 where he confirmed he belonged in the major league of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, winning the World Nogi Tournament later that year, closing the bracket with his “Avengers” team mate, Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu. He returned to his native Sao Paulo in 2011, with his master Cavaca, continuing his dedication to BJJ.

Marcus Buchecha’s Run at the BJJ Worlds 2011

WEIGHT	WON	LOST	SCORE	ROUND
Absolute	Marcus Almeida	Fabiano “Pega Leve”	Toe Hold	2nd
Absolute	Marcus Almeida	Braga Neto	Bow and Arrow Choke	1/4 finals
Absolute	Rodolfo Vieira	Marcus Almeida	Armbar	Semi Finals
Super Pesado	Marcus Almeida	Charles Dantas	Mata Leão	1/4 Finals
Super Pesado	Marcus Almeida	Antonio Peinado	Toe Hold	Semi Finals
Super Pesado	Leonardo Nogueira	Marcus Almeida	Ref Decision	Final

Marcus Almeida vs James Puopolo

Marcus Almeida vs Vitor Schlosser

Marcus Almeida vs Daniel Moraes