Marcelo Garcia’s Six-Year Wait To Test Himself Against Lachlan Giles Finally Ends At ONE Fight Night 38
The 2019 ADCC World Championships backstage area became the unlikely birthplace of obsession. Marcelo Garcia stood watching as Australian innovator Lachlan Giles — weighing just 77 kilograms — produced one of submission grappling’s most magical runs by submitting three hulking heavyweights through pristine technique that trumped sheer size.
The Brazilian legend wondered immediately what testing himself against the Melbourne native would feel like, yet six years passed before fate brought the two pioneers together for their lightweight dream match at ONE Fight Night 38: Andrade vs. Baatarkhuu on Prime Video on Friday, December 5, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Garcia’s name belongs on grappling’s Mount Rushmore. The 43-year-old captured four ADCC World Championships and five IBJJF World Titles with unmatched finishing instinct, cementing his status as arguably the sport’s greatest competitor. Those competition days seemed finished when stomach cancer diagnosis arrived in 2023, yet the nine-time BJJ World Champion showed the same warrior’s heart that built his legend by ultimately overcoming the life-threatening ailment by year’s end.
His January comeback at ONE 170 ended a 13-year hiatus through a north-south choke submission of Masakazu Imanari, adding another triumphant chapter to his legendary career while earning a $50,000 performance bonus that confirmed his return wasn’t a one-time farewell. When discussing his sophomore ONE Championship appearance with Vice President of Grappling Tom DeBlass, Garcia already had a name in mind — the same innovator who’d captivated him years earlier in Abu Dhabi.
“I was backstage the first time Lachlan competed at ADCC, and he displayed amazing submissions in the absolute [division] that day. He displayed such amazing jiu-jitsu against some really big guys. Seeing someone [like him] who competes in my division, who is the same size as me, that made me feel like I want to test myself against someone who showed such beautiful jiu-jitsu,” Garcia said.
That 2019 ADCC performance showcased everything Garcia respects about pure technical mastery. Giles submitted Kaynan Duarte, Mahamed Aly, and Patrick Gaudio with his signature inside heel hook to earn bronze in the openweight category, proving size means nothing against technique refined to perfection. The Brazilian watched in awe as “The Giant Killer” dismantled opponents who dwarfed him through angles they couldn’t anticipate and submissions they couldn’t escape.
Once Garcia’s contract was signed, the overwhelming fan reaction stunned him. The grappling world had been waiting years for this collision between fundamental mastery and modern innovation, creating anticipation the Brazilian legend didn’t fully comprehend until social media exploded with excitement.
“I didn’t realize all the people were expecting to see this match. I didn’t know that. That made me more inspired to go against him because I didn’t know people were looking [forward] to this match,” Garcia said.
His motivations have evolved beyond personal glory at this career stage. Garcia fights for everyone who supported him through cancer, his comeback, and his legendary journey. The emotional ONE 170 return proved something to himself — that he could still compete at the highest level after everything he’d endured. Now he wants showcasing the skills, belief, and passion for the sport that’s defined him across decades.
“I feel blessed that I was able to show [my skills] in a really high-level match, in a big competition like ONE Championship. I feel like that was the highlight of my life. It was just like a dream come true,” Garcia said about his return.
Giles represents everything the Brazilian respects: heart, technical brilliance, and innovation that’s reshaped modern grappling. The Australian’s ability to finish fights against impossible odds mirrors Garcia’s own career philosophy. Friday’s collision will answer questions both legends have carried for years about how their contrasting yet complementary styles match up under the brightest lights.
“I’m happy to know that I’m going against a good opponent, and to hear him say that he’s going to display all his hard work … I feel ready for that,” Garcia said. “I have to be able to go over there and show the best jiu-jitsu possible. To be able to know that I have somebody on that level, I feel like I could do that. I’m expecting him to give his best. That’s what makes this exciting for me.”
The Brazilian’s renewed purpose fuels him beyond simple victory or defeat. When he steps into the ring at ONE Fight Night 38, Garcia wants showcasing everything he’s learned across his legendary career, not for accolades but for everyone who believes in jiu-jitsu’s transformative power.
“I want to go in there and give everything I have. Every time I go to compete, I don’t want to disappoint everybody who wants to see me compete. It’s not about winning or losing. I want to go over there and show how hard I fight, how hard I believe in jiu-jitsu,” Garcia said.
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