Considered one of the greatest grapplers in history, Marcelo
Garcia has emerged from what he called the most difficult fight
of his life.
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The four-time ADCC champion and five-time World Jiu-Jitsu champion
spoke to Sherdog.com after a long battle against esophagus cancer
that required eight chemotherapy sessions.
“I moved from New York to Hawaii with my wife and two kids and
lived one year totally focused on defeating this cancer,” Garcia
said. “And this is the first interview I’m giving after that long
battle.”
After revisiting the most important moments of his brilliant
career, such as his historic match against Ricco
Rodriguez in the 2005 ADCC absolute division and wins over
jiu-jitsu legends such as Andre
Galvao, Demian Maia,
Renzo
Gracie and Robert
Drysdale, Garcia revealed an interesting episode that made him
change his opinion about grappling star Gordon
Ryan.
“In the past I didn’t like his attitude,” Garcia said. “When I
arrived to a jiu-jitsu or grappling competition, I avoided
looking at him simply because I thought his trash talking was not
good for the sport. I always thought that the only way to do good
for the sport was to be a good example for the children.”
However, a recent interview given by Ryan made Garcia rethink his
opinion.
“He said in that interview that everything he did was planned to
call attention not only to him, but to our sport, and he was really
doing that in an impressive way,” Garcia said. “I have no doubt
that I contributed to the growth of jiu-jitsu, but Gordon went
further than anyone and that’s a fact.”
It was a personal exchange with Ryan during the most difficult
moment of his cancer battle that made Garcia completely change his
opinion.
“You can guess how fragile I was last year in the middle of the
chemo battle, and he sent me a message talking about the problems
he had with his stomach and asking me to do a seminar to support
me,” Garcia said. “That showed me who the real Gordon Ryan
is. He definitely taught me a lesson with that beautiful
attitude.”
After receiving his medical release, the “Mata-Leão King” returned
to the mats in January. Even though he is 41 years old, Garcia is
already planning his return to competitions.
“I don’t feel like I had a one-year battle against cancer,” he
said. “I just feel like I ́m one year out of the gym. But I’m
returning little by little to the training and seminar
routine. My main headquarters are still in New York, but I’m
planning to open a dojo here in Hawaii, too. I’m already studying a
proposal for a superfight, but I also want to return to regular
jiu-jitsu tournaments.”