"I have to study every opponent" - Marcelo Garcia says he'll use all his learnings to defeat leg-lock master Masakazu Imanari

Marcelo Garcia spent most of his legendary Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) career going toe-to-toe with other marquee names in the sport. The Brazilian will look to translate his many years of experience into a statement-making victory against fellow legend Masakazu Imanari at ONE 170 on Jan. 24.

The 41-year-old bared his approach for his clash with Imanari in an interview with Jits Magazine's JitsCast, mentioning:

"I have competed so much. So if I have to study every opponent that I ever have - I'm talking about all the legends I have competed against - if I have to get good at defending every opponent, I don't think I have enough life in this world that you can learn to defend every opponent possible."

Garcia had spent the past 13 years focusing on his responsibilities as a father, ultimately choosing to step away from the prime years of his career after winning his fourth gold medal in the ADCC World Championship in September 2011.

However, the fires of competition deep within his heart continued to burn so much that he could no longer resist it, and he decided to sign with ONE in November 2024.

ONE 170 will take place inside the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The event will air live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

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Marcelo Garcia comments on 'cocky' BJJ athletes

During Marcelo Garcia's break from competition, he saw a surge in BJJ athletes who styled themselves after other boisterous combat sports personalities.

In a conversation with Jordan Teaches Jiu-Jitsu on YouTube, the five-time IBJJF World Championship gold medalist talked about how he approaches such competitors:

"Sometimes when people are just not humble, people just be cocky, like, you know, talk to trash talk, like, sometimes I just avoid them and do jiu-jitsu. Those are just one of those things."

Watch the interview below: