WATCH: BJJ legend Marcelo Garcia proves he still has a ton of magic left in sublime finish of Masakazu Imanari

Marcelo Garcia looked like he had never left.

Competing for the first time in nearly 14 years, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend delivered a masterclass at ONE 170 last Friday, Jan. 24, dazzling a sold-out crowd at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, with his signature grappling brilliance.

Watch Marcelo Garcia’s epic comeback below:

Taking on Masakazu Imanari in an openweight submission grappling contest, Garcia wasted no time asserting dominance. From the opening bell, he secured top control, seamlessly transitioning into half mount before setting up a textbook finish.

The 42-year-old initially locked in an arm-triangle choke, but when the submission didn’t fully sink in from the top, he swiftly adjusted, switching positions to force a tap via north-south choke at the 4:49 mark.

With the win, “Marcelinho” notched his 56th career submission and improved his professional record to 86-17 — a triumphant statement after more than a decade away from competition.

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Marcelo Garcia targets duel with Shinya Aoki

Marcelo Garcia’s comeback was anything but easy, but the tale of him suiting up for action once again couldn’t have been scripted any better. And now, he has his sights set on another grappling icon — Shinya Aoki.

However, before any potential showdown materializes, Aoki has unfinished business at ONE 172, scheduled for March 23 at Japan’s Super Saitama Arena. That night, he will renew his rivalry with Filipino superstar Eduard Folayang in a lightweight MMA clash.

Their storied history dates back to November 2016 when Folayang shocked the world by dethroning Aoki via third-round TKO to claim the ONE lightweight MMA world championship.

Aoki, though, got his revenge in March 2019, submitting Folayang with an arm-triangle choke in the first round to reclaim the belt.

The two met again in April 2021 in a non-title bout, where Aoki once again asserted his dominance, this time securing a first-round armbar submission.

With their rivalry set to reach another chapter, Garcia will be watching closely. But after his spectacular return at ONE 170, there’s no doubt he’s ready for the next challenge.