Anatoly Malykhin on Buchecha “We need to see him fighting a top-class grappler or wrestler”
Undefeated Anatoly Malykhin (11-0) is not yet entirely sold on the abilities of fellow heavyweight fighter Marcus Buchecha Almeida.
Buchecha is a two-time ADCC champion and 13-time Jiu Jitsu World Champion who has successfully transitioned to mixed martial arts and while still young in MMA career, Buchecha boasts an undefeated 2-0 record. The 32-year-old Brazilian will tangle with Simon Carson (2-1) this weekend at ONE Championship‘s ONE: 158 in Singapore.
“We need to see him fighting a top-class grappler or wrestler,” Malykhin said of Buchecha. “He has not faced anyone with a good takedown defense. So far, his opponents have been mainly good strikers (Kang Ji Won and Anderson “Braddock” Silva).
“Amir Aliakbari and [Kirill] Grishenko would be good tests. We need to see someone with good takedown defense. I want to see how he could combine his striking and grappling skills, if he can’t take an opponent [to the ground]. Let’s see if his stamina would be ok, too.
“I wish him to continue having a winning streak until he meets me in the ring. I will fight to unify the belts soon, so let’s see how soon ‘Buchecha’ and I can meet. You can send me the contract any time, I am ready.”
Will Buchecha impress Anatoly Malykhin this weekend? We’ll find out in just a few short days.
Main Card For ONE 158: Tawanchai vs. Larsen
Tawanchai PK.Saenchai vs. Niclas Larsen (Muay Thai – featherweight)
Kwon Won Il vs. Fabricio Andrade (MMA – bantamweight)
Reece McLaren vs. Xie Wei (MMA – flyweight)
Kairat Akhmetov vs. Tatsumitsu Wada (MMA – flyweight)
Rade Opacic vs. Guto Inocente (kickboxing – heavyweight)
Alex Silva vs. Adrian Mattheis (MMA – strawweight)
Lead Card For ONE 158: Tawanchai vs. Larsen
Yodkaikaew Fairtex vs. Gurdarshan Mangat (MMA – flyweight)
Marouan Toutouh vs. Constantin Rusu (kickboxing – lightweight)
Marcus Buchecha vs. Simon Carson (MMA – heavyweight)
Odie Delaney vs. Mehdi Barghi (MMA – heavyweight)
Duke Didier vs. Jasur Mirzamukhamedov (MMA – heavyweight)
Jenelyn Olsim vs. Julie Mezabarba (MMA – atomweight)
Kim Kyung Lock vs. Edson Marques (MMA – lightweight)