Brazilian Jiu Jitsu legend Marcelo Garcia has lengthy been thought to be one of many biggest submission artists the game has ever seen. Even after being compelled to retire in 2011, the grappling world had not forgotten him.
A type of who has admired the Brazilian submission star is ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. The promotion’s frontman additionally holds a black belt in BJJ, having earned it from famend fight sports activities icon Renzo Gracie.
A scholar of the sport, Sityodtong shortly grew to become appreciative of Garcia’s ability set. However after most cancers compelled the legend out of competitors 14 years in the past, no person ever thought they’d see Garcia step on the mats once more.
Not solely that, however the world of submission grappling had advanced into a special beast over the course of his hiatus from competitors. The game reached new territories around the globe, with much more extremely expert opponents rising to the forefront.
Understandably, it got here as a shock to many to see Garcia signal with ONE Championship and announce his return to competitors.
ONE Championship has an abundance of elite grapplers on its roster able to tangle with “Marcelinho.” However Sityodtong is assured in saying that, if Garcia can declare gold in ONE, there may be no argument as to who’s the most effective to ever do it.
“One of many biggest of all time is arguably Marcelo Garcia. The previous couple of years he’s been battling most cancers, however he’s cancer-free now. That’s why he wished one large final run,” he mentioned on The Tim Ferriss Present.
“If he wins a World Title in ONE, he’ll retire as arguably the best of all time.”