Marcelo Garcia (grappler)
Marcelo Garcia (born January 17, 1983) is a Brazilian submission grappler, a 5th degree black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and coach. A highly decorated competitor, Garcia is widely considered to be one of the greatest submission grapplers of all time, and one of the pound for pound greatest of his era.[2] Holding 5 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship and 4 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship titles,[2] Garcia is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame[3] and the third BJJ athlete to be inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame.[4]
Marcelo is widely known for his innovation of various techniques such as X-Guard, arm-drags and high wrist guillotines which became popular following his success in high level completion, influencing the grappling world for the years following.
Early life
[edit]Marcelo Garcia was born on 17 January 1983 in Formiga, Minas Gerais a small city in southeast Brazil.[1] Garcia won the World Championships at all belt levels (blue, purple, brown)[5] before receiving his black belt from Fabio Gurgel who he trained with in Sao Paulo, Brazil.[6][7]
Career
[edit]At K-1 HERO'S Korea 2007, Garcia made his MMA debut.[8] He lost this against Dae Won Kim twenty seconds into the second round by doctor's stoppage, due to a cut above his eye.[8] In September 2008, Garcia opened up a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school in Pembroke Pines, a city in South Florida located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.[5][9] In September 2009, Garcia opened an academy in Manhattan, New York City.[5][10] In November 2011, Garcia retired from competition, that same year he became the third person to be inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame as a result of his record-setting four gold medals in his own weight division and his performances in the absolute division.[11]
Garcia later opened the first Marcelo Garcia academy in Hawaii in 2024.[12]
Return
[edit]Garcia announced on November 11, 2024 that he had signed an exclusive contract with ONE Championship to make his return to professional grappling at one of their events.[13]
Garcia competed against Masakazu Imanari at ONE 170 on January 24, 2025.[14] He won the match by submission with a north-south choke.[15]
Health
[edit]On January 19, 2023, Garcia revealed that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and would undergo chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour.[16][17] After months of treatment and a successful surgery, Garcia had made a recovery.[18]
Instructor lineage
[edit]Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie Sr. → Helio Gracie → Rolls Gracie → Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti → Fabio Gurgel → Marcelo Garcia[1][2]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]Garcia has won five world championship titles in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a black belt in the middle-weight category.[5][19][AI-retrieved source] He has many submission grappling titles, including the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship. At ADCC, Garcia has won the 66–76 kg division four times (2003/2005/2007/2011),[2][20] been awarded the most technical fighter twice (2003 and 2007) and won the best fight award in 2005.[21][AI-retrieved source] In 2005, he finished in third place in the absolute (open weight) division and in 2007 finished second in the absolute division. In ADCC 2009, Garcia finished second in his weight division, losing by points to Pablo Popovitch, whom he had defeated in the two previous finals.[22][AI-retrieved source]
Grappling
[edit]- 2011
ADCC World Championship (-77 kg)- IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)
- 2010
- IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)
- 2009
ADCC World Championship (-77 kg)- IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)
ACBJJ World Cup (Absolute)- ACBJJ World Cup (-75 kg)
- 2007
- ADCC World Championship (Absolute)
- ADCC World Championship (-77 kg)
- Grapplers Quest: Beast of the East (Superfight Tournament)
- IBJJF Pan American Championship (-82 kg)
- 2006
- PSL: X-Mission Superfight Winner
- IBJJF World Championship (Absolute)
- IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)
- PSL: LA-Sub Superfight Winner
- CBJJ Brazilian National Championship (Absolute)
- CBJJ Brazilian National Championship (-82 kg)
- 2005
- Arnold Gracie Pro
- ADCC World Championship (Absolute)
- ADCC World Championship (-77 kg)
- 2004
- Arnold Gracie Pro
- IBJJF World Championship (Absolute)
- IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)
- CBJJ Brazilian National Championship (Absolute)
- CBJJ Brazilian National Championship (-82 kg)
- Campos Submission Wrestling 3 (Absolute)
- Campos Submission Wrestling 3 (-88 kg)
- 2003
- ADCC World Championship (-77 kg)
- IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)
Grappling record
[edit]| 91 Matches, 80 Wins (59 Submissions), 12 Losses (7 Submissions) | ||||||||
| Result | Rec. | Opponent | Method | Event | Division | Type | Date | Location
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 81–12 |  Lachlan Giles |
Submission (kneebar) | ONE Fight Night 38 | No-Gi | December 6, 2025 |  Bangkok | |
| Win | 81–11 |  Masakazu Imanari |
Submission (North-South Choke) | ONE 170 | No-Gi | January 25, 2025 | Bangkok | |
| Win | 80–11 |  Leo Vieira | Submission (triangle choke) | ADCC 2011 | –77 kg | Nogi | September 25, 2011 |  Nottingham |
| Win | 79–11 | Kron Gracie | Points (2–0) | |||||
| Win | 78–11 | Victor Estima | Submission (guillotine choke) | September 24, 2011 | ||||
| Win | 77–11 | David Hart | Submission (guillotine choke) | |||||
| Win | 76–11 | Lucas Leite | Points (2–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 5, 2011 |  Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 75–11 | Gustavo Campos | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 74–11 | Victor Estima | Points (3–0) | |||||
| Win | 73–11 | Vitor Henrique | Injury | June 4, 2011 | ||||
| Win | 72-11 | Rylan Lizares | Points (5–0) | |||||
| Win | 71–11 | Claudio Calasans | Points (2–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 6, 2010 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 70–11 | Kayron Gracie | Points (5–0) | |||||
| Win | 69–11 | Murilo Santana | Points (8–2) | |||||
| Win | 68-11 | Bruno Alves | Submission (north/south choke) | June 5, 2010 | ||||
| Win | 67-11 | Chico Mendes | Submission (north/south choke) | |||||
| Win | 66–11 | Lucas Leite |
Points (6-0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June, 2009 | Long Beach, CA |
| Loss | 65–11 | Braulio Estima | Submission (arm-in rear naked choke) | ADCC 2009 | Absolute | Nogi | September 27, 2009 |  Barcelona |
| Win | 65–10 | Bruno Bastos | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Loss | 64–10 | Pablo Popovitch | Points (1–3) | –77 kg | ||||
| Win | 64–9 | K-Taro Nakamura | Submission (guillotine choke) | |||||
| Win | 63–9 | Kron Gracie | Submission (guillotine choke) | September 26, 2009 | ||||
| Win | 62–9 | Rodney Ellis | Submission (guillotine choke) | |||||
| Win | 61–9 | Lucas Leite | Points (6–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | May 31, 2009 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 60–9 | Tiago Alves | Advantages (4–2) | |||||
| Win | 59–9 |  Nik Ruben Nikolaisen | Submission (choke) | May 30, 2009 | ||||
| Loss | 58–9 | Braulio Estima | Submission (triangle choke) | World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup | Absolute | Gi | 2009 |  Abu Dhabi |
| Win | 58–8 | Victor Estima | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Win | 57–8 | Eduardo Santoro | Points | |||||
| Win | 56–8 | Elmoutti Azedine | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Loss | 55–8 | Michael Langhi | Points (advantage) | –75 kg | ||||
| Win | 55–7 | Michel Maia | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Loss | 54–7 | Robert Drysdale | Submission (darce choke) | ADCC 2007 | Absolute | Nogi | May 6, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 54–6 | Alexandre Ferreira | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Win | 53–6 | Rolles Gracie | Verbal Submission (armlock) | |||||
| Win | 52–6 | Mario Miranda | Submission (north/south choke) | |||||
| Win | 51–6 | Pablo Popovitch | Submission (north/south choke) | –77 kg | May 5, 2007 | |||
| Win | 50–6 | Mike Fowler | Submission (guillotine choke) | |||||
| Win | 49–6 | Kurt Pellegrino | Submission (rear naked choke) | May 4, 2007 | ||||
| Win | 48–6 | George Sotiropoulos | Submission (guillotine choke) | |||||
| Win | 47–6 | Gregor Gracie | Submission (north/south choke) | Grapplers Quest | Superfight | Nogi | February 21, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 46–6 | Marcos Avellan | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Win | 45–6 | Edson Diniz | Submission (triangle armbar) | |||||
| Win | 44–6 | Adriano Silva | Submission (armbar) | Pan American Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2007 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 43–6 | Rodrigo Texieira | Submission (armlock) | |||||
| Win | 42–6 | Jake Shields | Submission (guillotine choke) | PSL: X-Mission | Superfight | Nogi | November 17, 2006 | Los Angeles, CA |
| Loss | 41–6 | Roger Gracie | Submission (choke) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 41–5 | Robert Drysdale | Points (3–0) | |||||
| Win | 40–5 | Thiago Gaia | Submission | |||||
| Win | 39–5 | Andre Galvao | Points (2–0) | –82 kg | ||||
| Win | 38–5 | Daniel Moraes | Disqualification (stalling) | |||||
| Win | 37–5 | Murilo Santana | ||||||
| Win | 36–5 | Cameron Earle | Submission (north/south choke) | PSL: LA Sub-X | Superfight | Nogi | May 26, 2006 | Los Angeles, CA |
| Win | 35–5 | Demian Maia | Points | Brazilian National Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 34–5 | Andre Galvao | Submission (Katahajime) | |||||
| Win | 33–5 | Adriano Camolesi | ||||||
| Win | 32–5 | Roberto de Abreu | ||||||
| Win | 31–5 | Andre Galvao | Points (6–2) | –82 kg | ||||
| Win | 30–5 | Gustavo Campos | ||||||
| Win | 29–5 | Alexandre Ribeiro | Submission (rear naked choke) | ADCC 2005 | Absolute | Nogi | May 29, 2005 | Long Beach, CA |
| Loss | 28–5 | Ronaldo Souza | Submission (kimura) | |||||
| Win | 28–4 | Diego Sanchez | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 27–4 | Ricco Rodriguez | Submission (heel hook) | |||||
| Win | 26–4 | Pablo Popovitch | Submission (wristlock) | –77 kg | ||||
| Win | 25–4 | Leonardo Santos | Points | |||||
| Win | 24–4 | Shinya Aoki | Submission (rear naked choke) | May 28, 2005 | ||||
| Win | 23–4 | Chris Brennan | Technical Submission (injury) | |||||
| Loss | 22–4 | Roger Gracie | Points (10–2) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 22–3 | Cássio Werneck | Points (9–0) | |||||
| Win | 21–3 | Flávio Serafim | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Loss | 20–3 | Alexandre Ribeiro | Points (6–0) | Brazilian National Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 20–2 | Eric Vanderlei | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Win | 19–2 | Marcio Corleta | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Win | 18–2 | Flávio Serafim | Submission (armbar) | –82 kg | ||||
| Win | 17–2 | Felipe Simão | ||||||
| Win | 16–2 | Fernando Paulon | Submission (choke) | |||||
| Win | 15–2 | Adriano Ribeiro | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Win | 14–2 | Renato Sobral | Points (6–0) | Campos Submission Wrestling 3 | Absolute | Nogi | 2004 | Campos |
| Win | 13–2 | Gabriel Gonzaga | Points (4–0) | |||||
| Win | 12–2 | Marcos Oliveira | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Win | 11–2 | Thales Leites | Submission (rear naked choke) | –88 kg | ||||
| Win | 10–2 | Bruno Bastos | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Win | 9–2 | Leonardo Nascimento | Submission (armbar) | |||||
| Loss | 8–2 | Fernando Augusto | Submission (triangle choke) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2003 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 8–1 | Garcia Brito | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Loss | 7–1 | Marcio Pe De Pano | Points (6–0) | ADCC 2003 | Absolute | Nogi | May 18, 2003 | São Paulo |
| Win | 7–0 | Mike Van Arsdale | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Win | 6–0 | Otto Olsen | Submission (rear naked choke) | –77 kg | ||||
| Win | 5–0 | Vítor Ribeiro | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
| Win | 4–0 | Renzo Gracie | Points (9–0) | May 17, 2003 | ||||
| Win | 3–0 | Kiuma Kunioku | Submission (rear naked choke | |||||
| Win | 2–0 | Fábio Negão Nascimento | Submission (rear naked choke) | Ubatuba | –77 kg | Nogi | 2002 | Ubatuba |
| Win | 1–0 | Adriano Pires | Submission (rear naked choke) | |||||
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]| 1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Kim Dae-Won | TKO (cut) | Hero's 2007 | October 28, 2007 | 2 | 0:20 | Seoul, South Korea |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Marcelo Garcia". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 2010-01-09.
- 1 2 3 4 5 BJJ Heroes (June 4, 2010). "Top 10 BJJ Fighters of all Time". www.bjjheroes.com. Retrieved 2012-07-29.
- ↑ "IBJJF Hall Of Fame". ibjjf.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "ADCC Hall Of Fame". adcombat.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 "MARCELO GARCIA / IBJJF Hall of Fame & 5x World Champion/ ADCC Hall of Fame & 4x ADCC World Champion". marcelogarciajj.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "The Metamorphosis Of Marcelo Garcia Into A BJJ Legend". Evolve Daily. 2022-03-19.
- ↑ "Watch Marcelinho Garcia receiving his new black belt degree from Fabio Gurgel". GracieMag. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- 1 2 "Marcelo Garcia Shares He Almost Fought Nick Diaz In An MMA Match". www.bjjee.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ Mossman, Bill (January 1, 2025). "Return of the Grappler". midweekkauai.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Marcelo Garcia Re-Opens Jiu-Jitsu Academy in New NYC Location". www.graciemag.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Marcelo Garcia Becomes Third Man in ADCC Hall of Fame". 30 November 2021.
- ↑ de Souza, Diogo. "Marcelo Garcia Opens New Academy In Hawaii". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ↑ Jones, Phil. "Marcelo Garcia Returns From Retirement To Sign For ONE Championship". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ↑ Phillips, Sabrina. "Marcelo Garcia Set To Face Masakazu Imanari At ONE 170". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ↑ "Marcelo Garcia Puts On Incredible Display Against Masakazu Imanari In His Return At ONE 170". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ↑ Jones, Phil (20 January 2023). "Marcelo Garcia Reveals Cancer Diagnosis". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ↑ "'Fighting For My Life' – BJJ Legend Marcelo Garcia Opens Up About Scary Battle With Cancer". www.onefc.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ Blackett, Todd (11 June 2023). "Marcelo Garcia Gives Update On Cancer Treatment". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ↑ "Here Are The All-Time Middleweight Champions At IBJJF Worlds". www.flograppling.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship Statistics". adcombat.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "ADCC NJ Tournament and FREE Seminar with MARCELO GARCIA". adcombat.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Dramatic Popovitch/Garcia -77kg finals steals show at ADCC Worlds". adcombat.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "IBJJF Championship Results". ibjjf.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Marcelo Garcia Grappling Record". www.flograppling.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Marcelo Garcia". www.tapology.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- Brazilian male mixed martial artists
- Lightweight mixed martial artists
- Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Brazilian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Brazilian submission wrestlers
- 1983 births
- Living people
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu trainers
- People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship medalists
- IBJJF Hall of Fame inductees
- ADCC Hall of Fame inductees
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners who have competed in MMA (men)
- People from Formiga, Minas Gerais
- Martial artists from Minas Gerais
- 21st-century Brazilian sportsmen