"I expect it to be the best version of Marcelo" - Lachlan Giles not underestimating Marcelo Garcia ahead of showdown

Lachlan Giles isn't buying into any narrative that Marcelo Garcia might not show up on fight night when they cross paths on submission grappling's grandest stage this week.

The 39-year-old Australian submission grappling icon faces the Brazilian legend in their lightweight submission grappling showcase at ONE Fight Night 38 on Friday, Dec. 5.

During his appearance on The FloGrappling Show, Giles made it clear he's preparing for Garcia at his absolute peak when they clash inside Bangkok's legendary Lumpinee Stadium.

"I fully expect Marcelo hasn't just been sitting around. He's still rolling and training with good people. I expect it to be the best version of Marcelo. That's how I'm approaching it," Lachlan Giles shared.

Garcia returned to competition at ONE 170 in January after a 14-year hiatus, dominating Japanese icon Masakazu Imanari with textbook positional control before finishing with a north-south choke.

His performance reminded everyone why he's considered the greatest—fundamental excellence executed with precision that leaves no openings.

Nothing about that comeback said that he didn't put in the work. If anything, it showed the magic he still possessed despite being away from the competitive mats and even battling stomach cancer in 2023.

Coming out of a three-year retirement specifically for this matchup shows how seriously Giles takes it. He's not showing up for a nostalgia exhibition or an easy day against a legend past his prime.

He's testing himself against someone he genuinely believes will bring everything—the technical mastery, the butterfly guard excellence, and the grip fighting sophistication, among other things, that revolutionized modern grappling.

Watch his full interview on The FloGrappling Show here:

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Lachlan Giles ready to tackle Marcelo Garcia's tricky grappling

In the same appearance on The FloGrappling Show, Lachlan Giles had nothing but praise for Garcia before they share the Circle inside the Thai capital this Friday.

"What stands out watching Marcelo even now – he's very crafty. I still have to watch out for those things he's doing. I would be approaching it quite differently now, but some of the things he was doing, like getting in on a tight waist and forcing the half guard position, he does it quite different to how a lot of other people do," the 39-year-old continued.

Lachlan Giles' clash with Garcia will be one of two submission grappling battles that take place at ONE Fight Night 38.

The vacant ONE flyweight submission grappling world title will be up for grabs when Diogo Reis and Daiki Yonekura lock horns just before the co-main and main event.

ONE Fight Night 38: Andrade vs. Baatarkhuu will be available live in U.S. primetime for free to active Amazon Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.