Marcelo 'Marcelinho' Garcia (b. 1983) is a Brazilian grappler and jiu-jitsu competitor. Considered by many to be the best pound for pound submission grappler (for no-gi) in the world Template:Citation needed, Garcia is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Fabio Gurgel of Team Alliance.
Biography[]
Garcia has four world championship titles in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a black belt in the middle-weight category. He has many submission grappling titles, including from the prestigious ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship. At ADCC, Marcelo has won the 66–76 kg division three times in a row (2003/2005/2007), 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, Marcelo finished second in his weight division, losing to Pablo Popovitch, whom he had defeated in the two previous finals.
At K-1 HERO'S Korea 2007, Marcelo lost his MMA debut against Dae Won Kim twenty seconds into the second round by doctor's stoppage due to a cut above his eye. It was announced that Garcia has joined up with American Top Team in Florida in order to improve his MMA skills. He will continue to fight in BJJ competitions under the Alliance team while representing ATT at MMA events.
In September 2008, Marcelo opened up a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school in Pembroke Pines, a city in South Florida located between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. In September 2009, Marcelo opened an academy in New York City where he personally teaches every class.