Legendary grappler Marcelo Garcia will return to competition for the first time since 2011, facing Japanese veteran Masakazu Imanari in a 10-minute match at ONE 170 in Bangkok on January 24, after overcoming stomach cancer and expressing his desire to compete more frequently.
Marcelo Garcia, the legendary grappler, is making his comeback on January 24th in Thailand. He’ll be facing off against Japanese veteran Masakazu Imanari in a 10-minute grappling match at ONE 170. Exciting stuff, right?
Garcia broke the news to MMA Fighting after announcing it on The Ariel Helwani Show. This event will unfold at the Impact Arena in Bangkok. A pretty big deal!
Considered by many as the greatest grappler of all time, Garcia hasn’t competed since 2011. That was when he snagged his last IBJJF gold medal, defeating Leonardo Vieira, Kron Gracie, and Victor Estima.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, Garcia shared his excitement: “I wanted to come back in a big event, a big stage we’ve never had before in grappling.” His kids have never seen him compete—can you believe that? It’s gonna be quite a show for them.
Garcia’s track record is nothing short of legendary. At just 170 pounds, he’s defeated some of the sport’s most formidable opponents like Ricco Rodriguez and Gabriel Gonzaga. And that’s just naming a few!
Having overcome stomach cancer just over a year ago, Garcia isn’t looking for a one-time gig. Turning 42 just a week before the match, he’s eager to dive back into competition regularly.
“I don’t want to fight once and that’s it,” Garcia emphasized. He’s been training consistently, except during COVID and his cancer treatment. Never missed a beat, he says!