“Didn’t give me any expectations” - BJJ legend Marcelo Garcia details the mental toll he experienced during his battle with cancer

Marcelo Garcia is brimming with excitement as he prepares for his long-awaited return to action at ONE 170 on January 24.

The Brazilian legend will go head-to-head with Masakazu Imanari in an openweight submission grappling showdown on the aforementioned card scheduled to take place at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

This highly anticipated match will mark Garcia’s first competition appearance since his dominant performance at the 2011 ADCC World Championships, where he submitted three out of four opponents to claim gold.

Since then, Garcia has shifted his focus primarily to raising his two children, expanding his world-renowned BJJ academy in New York City, and recovering from a battle with cancer that kept him away from training for much of 2023.

In an interview with ONE Championship, Garcia candidly shared how the illness cast a shadow over both his personal and professional life:

“I didn’t even know if I would be able to ever train again.”

He also added that his doctors didn’t sugarcoat the reality, leaving him with little hope during the toughest moments:

“My doctors didn’t give me any expectations [for my cancer diagnosis].”

During his recovery, Garcia found solace in spending time with his children and playing Zelda video games.

Despite these distractions, the inability to train was a constant struggle, and his absence from the mats proved to be mentally challenging.

Now fully recovered and ready to compete, Garcia is set to return to the sport he loves later this month.

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Marcelo Garcia faces litmus test against Masakazu Imanari

Marcelo Garcia’s comeback will be against no ordinary opponent.

Masakazu Imanari is an accomplished catch wrestler and BJJ black belt with a reputation for his dangerous leg locks, earning him the “Ashikan-Judan” nickname.

In addition to his grappling expertise, the Japanese fighter has had a notable career in mixed martial arts, making a name for himself in Asia’s premier promotions, including a six-bout tenure in ONE Championship.

With Imanari’s pedigree, Garcia is in for a stiff challenge at ONE 170.