BJJ legend Marcus Buchecha believes 'pressure' is on opponent ahead of debut at UFC Abu Dhabi |
24/07/2025 23:00 -
Martin Buday has won six of his seven UFC fights since joining the company in 2022 and has never been submitted in 17 professional bouts, but promotional newcomer Marcus Buchecha is still heavily favored to win their UFC Abu Dhabi clash.
Ahead of their fight this Saturday, Buchecha disagrees with that sentiment.
"I'm anxious to feel all that, but I'm not feeling pressured," Buchecha told MMA Fighting ahead of his UFC debut. "I think the pressure is on the other side. Sure, I have my titles, I have my career, my history in jiu-jitsu, and I'll take all that experience with me to the UFC, but I'm not the favorite.
"If we were to fight on the gi, then I would be the favorite and pressured to win. With that obligation to win, let's put it this way. But in MMA, I don't feel that. I never did [in ONE Championship], and also not in the UFC. I'm new to the sport, but I'm coming hungry for this."
The Brazilian is nothing short of a legend in the grappling circuit with a record 13 IBJJF world championships as a black belt and a pair of ADCC gold medals won, plus a long list of major achievements in the sport. Buchecha joined MMA in 2021 and currently owns a record of 5-1, with all of his wins coming by way of first-round finish. Despite the hype, Buchecha isn't feeling pressure on his shoulders to deliver.
Having not fought in a while, a forced layoff had Buchecha considering retirement. He wants to make up for lost time and fight again in 2025 after UFC Abu Dhabi, but a dream chance to be part of UFC Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 11 could be too early.
"The focus is on the 26th. I live one step at a time," Buchecha said. "I want to keep my feet on the ground, go there and fight, and then make that type of plan. But I'm super excited for this debut. I'm happy to be fighting. I'll carry the jiu-jitsu flag to the world's greatest and most famous octagon."
Buday scored decision victories over Andrei Arlovski and Uran Satybaldiev in his most recent octagon appearances, rebounding from his lone octagon defeat, a second-round TKO to Shamil Gaziev.
Buchecha gives Buday the "pressure" to win given his experience, and is grateful to have the opportunity to train with a long list of experienced heavyweights over at American Top Team in Florida, from Renan Ferreira to Junior dos Santos to Rodrigo Nascimento, plus a coaching staff that includes Katel Kubis, Steve Mocco, "King Mo" Lawal, Marcos Parumpa, Conan Silveira and Mike Brown.
"He's a [jiu-jitsu] black belt," Buchecha said of Buday. "There's a lot of heavyweights that are monsters on the feet but know nothing when they hit the ground. That's not his case. He's a black belt and trains jiu-jitsu for quite a while, but I've fought against black belts my entire life. World championships, all black belts there, so my opponent being a black belt or not doesn't change anything for me because I'll always believe in my jiu-jitsu against anyone."
"But I have to be prepared for any situation, right?" he continued. "If the fight doesn't go to the ground we have to stay on the feet, so we have to feel comfortable there. I'll be prepared for all areas, like it happened to me when I wasn't able to take the fight to the ground and had to fight on the feet, taking longer for me to get it to the ground. This is the magic about MMA. The plan doesn't always work, but the fighter has to adapt, has to figure it out."
