BJJ legend Marcelo Garcia is set to make his ONE Championship debut at the martial arts organization’s show ONE 170 in January 2025.
Garcia will return to action on 25 January for the first time since winning gold at the 2011 ADCC World Championships to face Japanese star Masakazu Imanari in an openweight submission grappling contest at Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
Widely regarded as the greatest BJJ competitor of all time, the 41-year-old Brazilian is a five-time IBJJF World Champion and a four-time ADCC World Champion and has cemented himself as one of the sport’s greats using his trademark butterfly guard, arm drags, and guillotine chokes.
On the other hand, Imanari is a veteran whose wins have mostly come via submission since making his MMA debut in 2000. A BJJ black belt, the 48-year-old is a specialist in leg locks, famed for his trademark “Imanari Roll” that is used by countless grapplers today to start heel hook attacks.
ONE 170 kicks off at 4:30 AM Mecca on Saturday 25 January and will be broadcast via beIN SPORTS.
