# Marcelo Garcia (grappler)

Marcelo Garcia (born January 17, 1983) is a Brazilian submission grappler and a 5th degree black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and coach. A highly decorated competitor, Garcia is widely considered to be one of the best grapplers in the world and arguably the best pound for pound submission grappler. Holding 5 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship and 4 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship titles, Garcia is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame and the third BJJ athlete to be inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame.

## Early life

Marcelo Garcia was born on 17 January 1983 in Formiga, Minas Gerais a small city in southeast Brazil. Garcia won the World Championships at all belt levels (blue, purple, brown) before receiving his black belt from Fabio Gurgel who he trained with in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

## Career

At K-1 HERO'S Korea 2007, Garcia made his MMA debut. He lost this against Dae Won Kim twenty seconds into the second round by doctor's stoppage, due to a cut above his eye. In September 2008, Garcia opened up a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school in Pembroke Pines, a city in South Florida located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. In September 2009, Garcia opened an academy in Manhattan, New York City. In November 2011, Garcia retired from competition, that same year he became the third person to be inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame as a result of his record-setting four gold medals in his own weight division and his performances in the absolute division.
Garcia later opened the first Marcelo Garcia academy in Hawaii in 2024.

### Return

Garcia announced on November 11, 2024 that he had signed an exclusive contract with ONE Championship to make his return to professional grappling at one of their events.
Garcia competed against Masakazu Imanari at ONE 170 on January 24, 2025. He won the match by submission with a north-south choke.

## Health

On January 19, 2023, Garcia revealed that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and would undergo chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour. After months of treatment and a successful surgery, Garcia had made a recovery.

## Instructor lineage

Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie Sr. → Helio Gracie → Rolls Gracie → Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti → Fabio Gurgel → Marcelo Garcia

## Championships and accomplishments

Garcia has won five world championship titles in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a black belt in the middle-weight category. He has many submission grappling titles, including the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship. At ADCC, Garcia has won the 66–76 kg division four times (2003/2005/2007/2011), been awarded the most technical fighter twice (2003 and 2007) and won the best fight award in 2005. In 2005, he finished in third place in the absolute (open weight) division and in 2007 finished second in the absolute division. In ADCC 2009, Garcia finished second in his weight division, losing by points to Pablo Popovitch, whom he had defeated in the two previous finals.

### Grappling
#### 2011

* ADCC World Championship (-77 kg)
* IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)

#### 2010

* IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)

#### 2009

* ADCC World Championship (-77 kg)
* IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)
* ACBJJ World Cup (Absolute)
* ACBJJ World Cup (-75 kg)

#### 2007

* ADCC World Championship (Absolute)
* ADCC World Championship (-77 kg)
* Grapplers Quest: Beast of the East (Superfight Tournament)
* IBJJF Pan American Championship (-82 kg)

#### 2006

* PSL: X-Mission Superfight Winner
* IBJJF World Championship (Absolute)
* IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)
* PSL: LA-Sub Superfight Winner
* CBJJ Brazilian National Championship (Absolute)
* CBJJ Brazilian National Championship (-82 kg)

#### 2005

* Arnold Gracie Pro
* ADCC World Championship (Absolute)
* ADCC World Championship (-77 kg)

#### 2004

* Arnold Gracie Pro
* IBJJF World Championship (Absolute)
* IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)
* CBJJ Brazilian National Championship (Absolute)
* CBJJ Brazilian National Championship (-82 kg)
* Campos Submission Wrestling 3 (Absolute)
* Campos Submission Wrestling 3 (-88 kg)

#### 2003

* ADCC World Championship (-77 kg)
* IBJJF World Championship (-82 kg)

## Grappling record

91 Matches, 80 Wins (59 Submissions), 11 Losses (6 Submissions) :
| Result | Rec. | Opponent | Method | Event | Division | Type | Date | Location |
| Win | 81–11 | Masakazu Imanari | Submission (North-South Choke) | ONE 170 | | No-Gi | January 25, 2025 | Bangkok |
| Win | 80–11 | Leo Vieira | Submission (triangle choke) | ADCC 2011 | –77 kg | Nogi | September 25, 2011 | Nottingham |
| Win | 79–11 | Kron Gracie | Points (2–0) | ADCC 2011 | –77 kg | Nogi | September 25, 2011 | Nottingham |
| Win | 78–11 | Victor Estima | Submission (guillotine choke) | ADCC 2011 | –77 kg | Nogi | September 24, 2011 | Nottingham |
| Win | 77–11 | David Hart | Submission (guillotine choke) | ADCC 2011 | –77 kg | Nogi | September 24, 2011 | Nottingham |
| Win | 76–11 | Lucas Leite | Points (2–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 5, 2011 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 75–11 | Gustavo Campos | Submission (armbar) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 5, 2011 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 74–11 | Victor Estima | Points (3–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 5, 2011 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 73–11 | Vitor Henrique | Injury | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 4, 2011 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 72-11 | Rylan Lizares | Points (5–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 4, 2011 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 71–11 | Claudio Calasans | Points (2–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 6, 2010 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 70–11 | Kayron Gracie | Points (5–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 6, 2010 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 69–11 | Murilo Santana | Points (8–2) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 6, 2010 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 68-11 | Bruno Alves | Submission (north/south choke) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 5, 2010 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 67-11 | Chico Mendes | Submission (north/south choke) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June 5, 2010 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 66–11 | Lucas Leite | Points (6-0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | June, 2009 | Long Beach, CA |
| Loss | 65–11 | Braulio Estima | Submission (arm-in rear naked choke) | ADCC 2009 | Absolute | Nogi | September 27, 2009 | Barcelona |
| Win | 65–10 | Bruno Bastos | Submission (rear naked choke) | ADCC 2009 | Absolute | Nogi | September 27, 2009 | Barcelona |
| Loss | 64–10 | Pablo Popovitch | Points (1–3) | ADCC 2009 | –77 kg | Nogi | September 27, 2009 | Barcelona |
| Win | 64–9 | K-Taro Nakamura | Submission (guillotine choke) | ADCC 2009 | –77 kg | Nogi | September 27, 2009 | Barcelona |
| Win | 63–9 | Kron Gracie | Submission (guillotine choke) | ADCC 2009 | –77 kg | Nogi | September 26, 2009 | Barcelona |
| Win | 62–9 | Rodney Ellis | Submission (guillotine choke) | ADCC 2009 | –77 kg | Nogi | September 26, 2009 | Barcelona |
| Win | 61–9 | Lucas Leite | Points (6–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | May 31, 2009 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 60–9 | Tiago Alves | Advantages (4–2) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | May 31, 2009 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 59–9 | Nik Ruben Nikolaisen | Submission (choke) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | May 30, 2009 | Long Beach, CA |
| Loss | 58–9 | Braulio Estima | Submission (triangle choke) | World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup | Absolute | Gi | 2009 | Abu Dhabi |
| Win | 58–8 | Victor Estima | Submission (choke) | World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup | Absolute | Gi | 2009 | Abu Dhabi |
| Win | 57–8 | Eduardo Santoro | Points | World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup | Absolute | Gi | 2009 | Abu Dhabi |
| Win | 56–8 | Elmoutti Azedine | Submission (choke) | World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup | Absolute | Gi | 2009 | Abu Dhabi |
| Loss | 55–8 | Michael Langhi | Points (advantage) | World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup | –75 kg | Gi | 2009 | Abu Dhabi |
| Win | 55–7 | Michel Maia | Submission (rear naked choke) | World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup | –75 kg | Gi | 2009 | Abu Dhabi |
| Loss | 54–7 | Robert Drysdale | Submission (darce choke) | ADCC 2007 | Absolute | Nogi | May 6, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 54–6 | Alexandre Ferreira | Submission (rear naked choke) | ADCC 2007 | Absolute | Nogi | May 6, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 53–6 | Rolles Gracie | Verbal Submission (armlock) | ADCC 2007 | Absolute | Nogi | May 6, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 52–6 | Mario Miranda | Submission (north/south choke) | ADCC 2007 | Absolute | Nogi | May 6, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 51–6 | Pablo Popovitch | Submission (north/south choke) | ADCC 2007 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 5, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 50–6 | Mike Fowler | Submission (guillotine choke) | ADCC 2007 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 5, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 49–6 | Kurt Pellegrino | Submission (rear naked choke) | ADCC 2007 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 4, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 48–6 | George Sotiropoulos | Submission (guillotine choke) | ADCC 2007 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 4, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 47–6 | Gregor Gracie | Submission (north/south choke) | Grapplers Quest | Superfight | Nogi | February 21, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 46–6 | Marcos Avellan | Submission (rear naked choke) | Grapplers Quest | Superfight | Nogi | February 21, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 45–6 | Edson Diniz | Submission (triangle armbar) | Grapplers Quest | Superfight | Nogi | February 21, 2007 | Trenton, NJ |
| Win | 44–6 | Adriano Silva | Submission (armbar) | Pan American Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2007 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 43–6 | Rodrigo Texieira | Submission (armlock) | Pan American Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2007 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 42–6 | Jake Shields | Submission (guillotine choke) | PSL: X-Mission | Superfight | Nogi | November 17, 2006 | Los Angeles, CA |
| Loss | 41–6 | Roger Gracie | Submission (choke) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 41–5 | Robert Drysdale | Points (3–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 40–5 | Thiago Gaia | Submission | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 39–5 | Andre Galvao | Points (2–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 38–5 | Daniel Moraes | Disqualification (stalling) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 37–5 | Murilo Santana | | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 36–5 | Cameron Earle | Submission (north/south choke) | PSL: LA Sub-X | Superfight | Nogi | May 26, 2006 | Los Angeles, CA |
| Win | 35–5 | Demian Maia | Points | Brazilian National Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 34–5 | Andre Galvao | Submission (Katahajime) | Brazilian National Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 33–5 | Adriano Camolesi | | Brazilian National Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 32–5 | Roberto de Abreu | | Brazilian National Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 31–5 | Andre Galvao | Points (6–2) | Brazilian National Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 30–5 | Gustavo Campos | | Brazilian National Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2006 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 29–5 | Alexandre Ribeiro | Submission (rear naked choke) | ADCC 2005 | Absolute | Nogi | May 29, 2005 | Long Beach, CA |
| Loss | 28–5 | Ronaldo Souza | Submission (kimura) | ADCC 2005 | Absolute | Nogi | May 29, 2005 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 28–4 | Diego Sanchez | Submission (armbar) | ADCC 2005 | Absolute | Nogi | May 29, 2005 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 27–4 | Ricco Rodriguez | Submission (heel hook) | ADCC 2005 | Absolute | Nogi | May 29, 2005 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 26–4 | Pablo Popovitch | Submission (wristlock) | ADCC 2005 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 29, 2005 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 25–4 | Leonardo Santos | Points | ADCC 2005 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 29, 2005 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 24–4 | Shinya Aoki | Submission (rear naked choke) | ADCC 2005 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 28, 2005 | Long Beach, CA |
| Win | 23–4 | Chris Brennan | Technical Submission (injury) | ADCC 2005 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 28, 2005 | Long Beach, CA |
| Loss | 22–4 | Roger Gracie | Points (10–2) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 22–3 | Cássio Werneck | Points (9–0) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 21–3 | Flávio Serafim | Submission (choke) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Loss | 20–3 | Alexandre Ribeiro | Points (6–0) | Brazilian National Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 20–2 | Eric Vanderlei | Submission (rear naked choke) | Brazilian National Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 19–2 | Marcio Corleta | Submission (choke) | Brazilian National Championship | Absolute | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 18–2 | Flávio Serafim | Submission (armbar) | Brazilian National Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 17–2 | Felipe Simão | | Brazilian National Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 16–2 | Fernando Paulon | Submission (choke) | Brazilian National Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 15–2 | Adriano Ribeiro | Submission (armbar) | Brazilian National Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2004 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 14–2 | Renato Sobral | Points (6–0) | Campos Submission Wrestling 3 | Absolute | Nogi | 2004 | Campos |
| Win | 13–2 | Gabriel Gonzaga | Points (4–0) | Campos Submission Wrestling 3 | Absolute | Nogi | 2004 | Campos |
| Win | 12–2 | Marcos Oliveira | Submission (rear naked choke) | Campos Submission Wrestling 3 | Absolute | Nogi | 2004 | Campos |
| Win | 11–2 | Thales Leites | Submission (rear naked choke) | Campos Submission Wrestling 3 | –88 kg | Nogi | 2004 | Campos |
| Win | 10–2 | Bruno Bastos | Submission (rear naked choke) | Campos Submission Wrestling 3 | –88 kg | Nogi | 2004 | Campos |
| Win | 9–2 | Leonardo Nascimento | Submission (armbar) | Campos Submission Wrestling 3 | –88 kg | Nogi | 2004 | Campos |
| Loss | 8–2 | Fernando Augusto | Submission (triangle choke) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2003 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Win | 8–1 | Garcia Brito | Submission (rear naked choke) | World Jiu-Jitsu Championship | –82 kg | Gi | 2003 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Loss | 7–1 | Marcio Cruz | Points (6–0) | ADCC 2003 | Absolute | Nogi | May 18, 2003 | São Paulo |
| Win | 7–0 | Mike Van Arsdale | Submission (rear naked choke) | ADCC 2003 | Absolute | Nogi | May 18, 2003 | São Paulo |
| Win | 6–0 | Otto Olsen | Submission (rear naked choke) | ADCC 2003 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 18, 2003 | São Paulo |
| Win | 5–0 | Vítor Ribeiro | Submission (rear naked choke) | ADCC 2003 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 18, 2003 | São Paulo |
| Win | 4–0 | Renzo Gracie | Points (9–0) | ADCC 2003 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 17, 2003 | São Paulo |
| Win | 3–0 | Kiuma Kunioku | Submission (rear naked choke | ADCC 2003 | –77 kg | Nogi | May 17, 2003 | São Paulo |
| Win | 2–0 | Fábio Negão Nascimento | Submission (rear naked choke) | Ubatuba | –77 kg | Nogi | 2002 | Ubatuba |
| Win | 1–0 | Adriano Pires | Submission (rear naked choke) | Ubatuba | –77 kg | Nogi | 2002 | Ubatuba |

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 0–1 | Kim Dae-Won | TKO (cut) | Hero's 2007 | October 28, 2007 | 2 | 0:20 | Seoul, South Korea | |