In a recent Q&A session with his followers, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu standout Nicholas Meregali revealed his intentions to return to Gi competition after focusing on No Gi matches due to professional opportunities in Brazil.
When asked directly about competing in the kimono again at IBJJF championships, Meregali was clear about his passion:
“Kimono is my passion, and No Gi is merely a momentary professional choice because the sport is growing a lot in Brazil. I do intend to return to fighting in kimono and I hope that soon.”
This statement comes during Meregali’s recovery period following significant shoulder issues that have sidelined him for months. In February, he shared that he needed a second shoulder surgery after his initial procedure in August, potentially keeping him away from competition for an additional 4-6 months.
Despite these setbacks, Meregali has maintained a philosophical outlook on his competitive mindset. When asked about fixing poor performances in competition, he emphasized the importance of honesty and humility.
“Be honest and humble,” Meregali wrote. “Be honest about the situations you are not good enough, and humble to accept you are not perfect. Athletes naturally have these qualities very well developed in order to reach a level that others can’t.”
He added,
“I truly believe in techniques, so the priority is fixing your game, but as your question was based on mindset I answered in that way.”
Meregali also shared insights on maintaining mental alignment with ambitions, rejecting the notion of permanent consistency:
“I believe there is no such thing as ‘always’, but keeping the mind ‘constant’ is important. Life is made of ups and downs in any situation, relationship, career, feelings, etc. The important thing is to have a clear vision of the future and values so that even with small slip-ups we can realign ourselves quickly. Life is life.”
The Brazilian competitor has faced challenges both on and off the mat, having disabled comments on his social media following criticism he received after his ADCC defeat to Michael Pixley, which came after a controversial pre-tournament post suggesting he would win the competition. In addition to this, Meregali is often trolled for his relationship with the barely legal girlfriend.
