(ONE Championship )
M
arcus “Buchecha” Almeida steps into the ONE Championship Circle for the third time against "Reug Reug" Oumar Kane in a must-see heavyweight battle at ONE: Eersel vs. Sadikovic.
On Friday, April 22, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, the pair of stars will put their ground game to the test, as “Reug Reug” showcases his wrestling prowess against the world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) skills that have brought “Buchecha” notoriety.
Kane is 3-1 in the Circle, but he is up against an incredible competitor in Almeida. The Brazilian has had two bouts on the global stage so far, with both ending in a submission win in the first round.
“Buchecha” won nearly 30 gold medals in grappling in less than a decade and is a 13-time BJJ world champion. Since making the switch to MMA, he has integrated his skills to perfection into the all-encompassing sport. But, despite his success, the Sao Paulo native still sees room for improvement.
“I just keep training. Not just for one opponent, but I’m training to get better. I’m training to keep evolving. Stoic mindset, and let’s get better and be ready for the next one – whoever it is. I’m training with the best guys in the world, in my opinion. Because I have a lot of heavyweight training partners in American Top Team and I have all the support of the Evolve MMA team as well. I’m training with those guys every day, it’s been perfect,” Almeida said.
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For his part, “Reug Reug” has proven to be an excellent opponent for the jiu-jitsu black belt, with ground-and-pound skills that have earned him three stoppages in the Circle. The Senegalese star impressed the world when he took on Alain “The Panther” Ngalani and managed to bring him into his realm on the mat. His attack on Ngalani’s head brought the bout to a halt in seconds.
The Senegalese athlete tasted defeat in the Circle for the first time last year, so he is anxious to set his record on track once more, while "Buchecha" is keen to continue his run of dominance in the Circle. Both men will get the chance to do so in just a few short weeks.
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This article is published in collaboration with ONE Championship