“I just want jiu-jitsu to keep growing” - Marcelo Garcia believes BJJ is bigger than the Olympics

41-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend and former world champion Marcelo Garcia is coming back to the sport he loves after a decade on the sidelines.

The pound-for-pound great wants to ensure 'the gentle art' has a bright future ahead, and in order to do that, he feels he has to do his part to make the sport as big as ever.

Jiu-jitsu has taken center stage as of late, with ONE Championship introducing the sport to a wide global audience, while organizations like CJI cater to hardcore fans.

At one point, it was heavily being considered as an Olympic sport. But Garcia says BJJ may have already surpassed those days, and he wants to see the sport rise to even greater heights.

Garcia spoke to veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani in a recent guest appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, and the BJJ legend said:

"I believe it could happen. But I don't know. I don't know if maybe it's going to be even bigger than the Olympics. You know what I mean? When I say the Olympics, maybe jiu-jitsu doesn't need to go to the Olympics. It's going to be a professional sport like MMA. You don't have MMA today in the Olympics. You know what I mean?"

Garcia added:

"I just want jiu-jitsu to keep growing just because I feel like we need jiu-jitsu in our life. And the reason why is because we get connected to people deeply. And that's my whole goal in jiu-jitsu."

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Marcelo Garcia returns to face Masakazu Imanari in legends battle at ONE 170

BJJ icon Marcelo Garcia is coming back to the mats after more than a decade as a stay-at-home dad. He is set to face Japanese legend Masakazu Imanari in an openweight submission grappling match.

The two lock horns at ONE 170: Tawanchai vs. Superbon, which broadcasts live in Asia primetime on Friday, January 24, from the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

Fans in the United States and Canada can visit ONE Championship's official website for more information on how to watch.