Brazilian jiu-jitsu icon Marcus Almeida has a new opponent for his return to ONE Championship in May.
With “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane sidelined due to an undisclosed injury, the promotion announced Friday that “Buchecha” will now meet fellow Brazilian heavyweight Hugo Cunha at ONE Championship 157, which goes down May 20 in Singapore.
Almeida (2-0) was victorious via first-round submission in his first two MMA bouts under the ONE banner in 2021, tapping Anderson “Braddock” Silva and Ji Won Kang. Prior to his transition into MMA, Buchecha won two ADCC gold medals as well as 13 jiu jitsu world champions.
Cunha (6-1), a multiple time wrestling champion in Brazil, won his first six MMA bouts via stoppage to earn a shot at Dana White‘s Contender Series in 2021 but withdrew from the card. Cunha signed with ONE and lost a split to Dustin Joynson in February.
The Singapore Indoor Stadium will host
ONE 157 and the headliner is two muay Thai championship bouts. Prajanchai PK Saenchai will face Prajanchai PK Saenchai, and Petchmorakot Petchyindee vs. Jimmy Vienot concludes the main event.
