![Marcelo Garcia had a wondrous return to competition for the first time since 2011 at ONE 170. [Photo via: ONE Championship]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/01/e7369-17379710905972-1920.jpg)
![Marcelo Garcia had a wondrous return to competition for the first time since 2011 at ONE 170. [Photo via: ONE Championship]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.6666666666667'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMUjFD//xAAeEAACAgICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMRAAQFMSJBkf/aAAgBAQABPwDj0134reLwKrpKiqydICfI1fZsfMOvEpIBmNe7XP/EABcRAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAiH/2gAIAQIBAT8Apaf/xAAUEQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAEDAQE/AH//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) legend Marcelo Garcia had many fans in tears for having a dominant return to action after 14 years away from competition at ONE 170 last Friday, Jan. 24.
The Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, hosted ONE Championship's first numbered card of the year, which featured the five-time IBJJF World Championship gold medalist submitting fellow icon Masakazu Imanari via north-south choke.
The promotion shared the finishing sequence on YouTube, which can be viewed in its entirety below:
Trending
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
In the comments section, fans celebrated Garcia's glorious return to the sport he stepped away from in 2011, writing:
"Im not crying. You are."
"Great to see that one of the best BJJ competitors ever is such a great person without big ego or smacktalk."
"What an inspiration after all he's been through. Marcelo is all class."
"We need millions or more people just like Marcelo in the world. Absolute legend, example, mentor, and innovative GOAT of his sport. It's just incredible to see him back!!"
"Marcelo the living samurai. Thank you for being such a great role model for us all."
![Screenshot of fans' comments. [ONE Championship/YouTube]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/01/4526f-17379744817022-1920.jpg)
The full replay of ONE 170 is available via watch.onefc.com.
Marcelo Garcia still wants Shinya Aoki matchup
Marcelo Garcia had a flawless performance in his promotional debut, but he still hopes to test his skills against former ONE lightweight MMA world champion Shinya Aoki.
During the post-fight interview with ONE commentator Mitch Chilson, the 42-year-old megastar said:
"There is a match that was supposed to be before this one. There was somebody who I was supposed to fight before this one. Shinya Aoki was supposed to be my first one. I'm still ready for him. He was the one who I was supposed to fight for my first match, but for some reason, he couldn't wait for me. Now I'm still here, so I hope I can get this match back with him."
