Diogo Reis says Marcelo Garcia was at a big disadvantage against "new school" Lachlan Giles: “The grappling was really different”

Newly crowned ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion Diogo Reis of Brazil was saddened to see his idol Marcelo Garcia lose at ONE Fight Night 38 on Dec. 5.

On the same night that Reis captured 26 pounds of gold by outclassing Daiki Yonekura, Garcia lost via kneebar to fellow BJJ legend Lachan Giles.

In his post-event interview with Nick Atkin, Reis said Garcia was at a disadvantage against Giles, who’s considered one of the innovators of modern-day leg attacks.

“Let me explain that. Marcelo and Lachlan, they are the same age, right? But at the time of Marcelo, many years ago, the grappling was really different. Marcelo at his time, he was the greatest, but he stopped competing. And a lot of things changed. The way you pass, the way you connect with the legs, the way you think about fight, the way grappling improves a lot about every situation, right? And you get Lachlan. Okay. I think he's an old guy but he's a new guy, new school, let's say. He's new school versus Marcelo, old school. So it's totally different how Marcelo could face Lachlan.”

‘Baby Shark’ added:

“I think this time Marcelo stopped. Of course, he's still training, keeping shape and everything. But you know the difference between nowadays and before, it's totally different because people at that time didn't have so many good grapplers like nowadays. Lachlan was, you know, very comfortable in my vision. Because I was watching the fight. He's really comfortable and really knows what Marcelo wants to do. And also his leg in the tournament is really good.”

Watch the full interview:

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Diogo Reis cherishes training with Marcelo Garcia

Apart from winning the ONE flyweight submission grappling world title at ONE Fight Night 38, Diogo Reis also got an opportunity of a lifetime to train with Marcelo Garcia.

'Baby Shark' recalled the experience on the same interview:

“It was a great experience training with Marcelo. He's a good guy. Also, not just training in jiu-jitsu, but also, you know, mentality— he shared his routine when he was a competitor. So it was great having this meeting, you know, with the guy from the old times, new times, because we could share training also. And not just jiu-jitsu, but he's a really good guy, good energy, simple guy.”

Watch both submission grappling matches on Prime Video's ONE Fight Night 38 replay, available now for North American viewers.