Buchecha Confident Teammate Adriano Moraes Will Submit Yuya Wakamatsu At ONE X

Buchecha Confident Teammate Adriano Moraes Will Submit Yuya Wakamatsu At ONE X

Buchecha Confident Teammate Adriano Moraes Will Submit Yuya Wakamatsu At ONE X

Buchecha Confident Teammate Adriano Moraes Will Submit Yuya Wakamatsu At ONE X

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The global fan base knows that Adriano Moraes is a special mixed martial artist, but Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida says his fellow Brazilian is an equally impressive human being. Moraes – who will defend his ONE Flyweight World Title against Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE X on Saturday, 26 March – trains alongside “Buchecha” at American Top Team in Florida, USA, and the pair have struck up a strong bond.

The BJJ legend is looking forward to watching that clash at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, especially after growing closer with Moraes.

He told ONE Championship:

“I met Adriano as soon as I joined American Top Team almost two years ago. Adriano is a guy that everyone loves, who is always laughing, always upbeat. If someone says they don’t like Adriano, I’m sure the problem is the person who doesn’t like him (laughs), because Adriano is a sensational person.

“He’s the World Champion [at ONE], and when I got to the gym, I saw about six or seven belts of his there. It was the first time I saw ONE’s belt up close. It got me a lot closer to him. I asked him a lot of questions, he told me how the event was.

“And he’s also a BJJ black belt, so we exchange a lot of information after training. He has a lot of good positions, and I’m learning a lot from him.”

“Buchecha” has kicked off his own MMA career with a perfect 2-0 start in ONE, but seven-time ONE Flyweight World Champion Moraes has been at the top of the sport for years.

With that in mind, the grappling icon is watching his friend and teammate closely – and taking note of the attributes that have made “Mikinho” so successful.

Almeida said:

“His attitude and mentality are his most defining characteristics. No matter how difficult the situation is, he always tries to remain calm to change it. There was a fight in which he got knocked down, fell practically unconscious, and managed to compose himself and finish the fight. This is an example that shows his mental strength. He is not shaken in any situation.” (One Championship)