A distinguished figure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Marcelo Garcia, is set to engage with the Australian ground game expert, Lachlan Giles, in a lightweight submission grappling contest at ONE Fight Night 38, taking place on Friday, December 5, within the walls of Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The athlete, now 43 years of age, previously secured four ADCC World Championships in addition to five IBJJF World Titles, distinguished by an exceptional talent for securing finishes. This record has solidified his position as perhaps the most outstanding competitor within the sport.
Those competitive days seemed to have concluded when Garcia received a diagnosis of stomach cancer in 2023. Yet, he eventually triumphed over the potentially fatal condition before the year concluded. His return at ONE 170 this past January marked the end of a 13-year break, during which he submitted Masakazu Imanari using a north-south choke. The victory resulted in a performance bonus of $50,000 for him.
When the time came to arrange his subsequent appearance, one particular name immediately sparked his interest. Giles initially gained Garcia’s attention at the 2019 ADCC World Championships, where the Australian put on one of the sport’s most memorable performances. With a weight of just 77 kilograms, the Giant Killer submitted three considerably larger heavyweights utilizing his well-known inside heel hook to win a bronze medal within the openweight division.
Garcia looked on with admiration as flawless skill overwhelmed raw size. From then on, he contemplated what it might be like to evaluate his own abilities against the Melbourne native. Several years passed before circumstance brought the two legends into contact with each other.
“I was present backstage during Lachlan’s initial ADCC competition, and he demonstrated astonishing submissions within the absolute [division] during that day. He showcased incredibly refined jiu-jitsu against several very large individuals. Seeing somebody [like him] competing in my division, who is of comparable size to me, inspired within me the desire to assess my skills against somebody who exhibited such exquisite jiu-jitsu,” he stated.
Marcelo Garcia approaches a legend-versus-legend confrontation with renewed motivation
As Marcelo Garcia discussed his upcoming match with ONE Championship Vice President of Grappling Tom DeBlass, he already had a particular name in mind. Once the contract was formalized, he was taken aback by the overwhelming reaction from fans. Garcia has experienced a sense of revival within his life and career. At this point, his reasons for fighting have changed. He is fighting to show gratitude to all of those who have offered him support throughout his cancer battle, his comeback, and his celebrated career.
“I was unaware that so many individuals were anticipating this particular match. I was not aware of that. That detail has provided me with greater inspiration to compete against him, due to my lack of awareness that people were looking [forward] to this match,” he noted.
“I want to enter the arena and give every bit of energy I possess. Each time I compete, I make an effort to not disappoint anyone wishing to see me compete. It is not primarily about winning or losing. My intention is to enter the arena and showcase the extent to which I am willing to fight, and the depth of my belief in jiu-jitsu.”
