‘The Greatest Of All Time’ – Lachlan Giles Honored To Grapple Fellow BJJ Royalty Marcelo Garcia At ONE Fight Night 38
Australian grappling pioneer Lachlan Giles was content in retirement, but the allure of facing the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor of all time proved impossible to resist.
The 39-year-old makes his promotional debut against Marcelo Garcia in a lightweight submission grappling dream match at ONE Fight Night 38: Andrade vs. Baatarkhuu on Prime Video, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, December 5.
Since his last competition at the 2022 ADCC World Championships, Giles has enjoyed the family life. The Melbourne native manages Absolute MMA, teaches classes, shares his technical brilliance through online instructional videos, and raises two children with his wife.
But fate came calling in 2025. What started as harmless online chatter became a super fight of epic proportions.
ONE Championship Vice President of Grappling Tom DeBlass presented Giles with an offer he couldn’t refuse — that offer being a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the BJJ GOAT.
Giles told onefc.com:
“I’d seen a few threads on Reddit where people were talking about who Marcelo should fight next. My name got thrown up there quite a few times. It was something that had crossed my mind, and I was kind of like, ‘Would I do it or wouldn’t I?’
“I was quite happy being retired, to be honest. But just before CJI, Tom DeBlass reached out to me. He said, ‘Would you take a match with Marcelo?’ I thought about it, and I was like, ‘I can’t turn this down.'”
The Aussie’s reverence for his opponent runs deep. Garcia captured four ADCC World Championships and five IBJJF World Titles, cementing him as the best pound-for-pound grappler of his era.
Garcia’s journey is equally inspiring. After beating stomach cancer in 2023, the 43-year-old Brazilian returned from a 15-year hiatus to submit Masakazu “Ashikan-Judan” Imanari at ONE 170 in January.
For Giles, this represents far more than another match – it’s about sharing the ring with a living legend.
“The Giant Killer” explained:
“From a jiu-jitsu point of view, he’s incredible. He’s the best ever. I think you can call him the greatest of all time.
“You look at the people that Marcelo has beaten and how he’s done it as well. His submission rate is very high. He’s always been very innovative.”
Yet Giles’ admiration extends beyond technique. He deeply respects Garcia as someone who has carried himself with grace and positivity throughout his legendary career.
This blend of supreme skill and genuine character makes facing “Marcelinho” such an honor.
Giles continued:
“He always seems very happy, [always] smiling. I’ve trained at his gym before – he’s very welcoming. I haven’t heard him ever do any trash talk or anything like that. I look up to him a lot from that side too, and I think he’s been a great ambassador for the sport.”
Giles Confident His Guard Can Solve Garcia’s Perfection
Despite his profound respect for Marcelo Garcia, Lachlan Giles plans to leave Bangkok victorious.
The Australian innovator understands the challenge. Garcia’s fundamentally sound style leaves no openings, while his crushing pressure passing and finishing ability have stumped the world’s best grapplers.
But Giles believes his attacking guard and leg entanglement system provides the blueprint to neutralize the Brazilian icon.
He said:
“I certainly would back myself in any sort of leg lock exchange. I think my guard retention is very good, and my passing is pretty good as well.
“My entries are good, and I can attack the upper and lower body from guard – good toe holds, shotgun armbar. I’ve been working even triangle entries when someone’s defending K-guard attacks into the legs.”
Giles backs up that self-belief with results. He’ll hunt for his signature heel hooks — the same weapon he used during his magical run through the absolute division at the 2019 ADCC World Championships, where he submitted three heavyweights to earn his “Giant Killer” moniker.
But the Melbourne native wants to showcase more than just his leg lock mastery. On December 5, Giles plans to unleash the full spectrum of his game against the greatest grappler of all time.
The Australian said:
“Obviously, leg locks, if I can get them. If I get the chance off a leg entanglement, I want to come up and try to pass as well. Everyone who follows me sort of knows me just as a guard player. I want to show I can do more than that.
“I’ll try to find a way to get to his legs, get a finish from that. If not, I’ll try to come on top, look to pass, go for the back, and look to choke from the back. That’s the plan.”
