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 best grapplers in the world and arguably the best pound for pound submission grappler.^[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 Garcia
Garcia at the 2011 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Born	(1982-01-17) January 17, 1982 (age 43) Formiga, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Other names	Marcelinho[1]
Residence	New York City
Team	Alliance Jiu Jitsu
Rank	5th deg. BJJ black belt (under Fabio Gurgel)
Other information
Occupation	Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor and coach
Website	Marcelo Garcia Academy
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record Representing  Brazil Grappling ADCC 2003 Sao Paulo, Brazil -77 kg 2005 California, USA -77 kg 2005 California, USA Absolute 2007 New Jersey, USA -77 kg 2007 New Jersey, USA Absolute 2009 Barcelona, Spain -77kg 2011 Nottingham, UK -77kg Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship 2003 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -82 kg 2004 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -82 kg 2004 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute 2006 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -82 kg 2006 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute 2009 California, USA -82 kg 2010 California, USA -82 kg 2011 California, USA -82 kg Pan American Championship 2007 California, USA -82 kg Brazilian National Championship 2004 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -82 kg 2004 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute 2006 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -82 kg 2006 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute World Cup 2009 Abu Dhabi, UAE -75 kg 2009 Abu Dhabi, UAE Absolute

Early life

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

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

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

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

Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie Sr. → Helio Gracie → Rolls Gracie → Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti → Fabio Gurgel → Marcelo Garcia^[1][2]

Championships and accomplishments

Garcia has won five world championship titles in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a black belt in the middle-weight category.^[5][19] 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] 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]

Grappling

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)

^[2][23][1]

Grappling record

^[24][1]

91 Matches, 80 Wins (59 Submissions), 11 Losses (6 Submissions)
Result	Rec.	Opponent	Method	Event	Division	Type	Date	Location
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

^[25][1]

Professional record breakdown

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

• AJ Agazarm
• Herbert Burns
• Hannette Staack