Craig Jones forced Gabi Garcia to tap out in their controversial intergender grappling match in Las Vegas.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu stars faced off in a ‘superfight’ at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational at the Thomas & Mack Centre on Saturday night.
Several fans questioned whether the bout should go ahead despite Garcia being the taller and heavier athlete and Jones even said he had received death threats ahead of the event.
He put the debate and controversy over the fight to one side to dominate the Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend, clinching victory courtesy of a rear-naked choke which forced Garcia to tap out.
Garcia is a four-time ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship gold medallist and six-time IBJJF world champion but was no match for Jones, one of the greatest BJJ athletes in the world.
The Jones-Garcia match was almost cancelled earlier this week after the 33-year-old Australian kissed Garcia during the face-off.
Garcia, 38, said at the time: ‘You’re a b***h, man. Really? F*** you, you crossed the line.’
But Jones, 33, later confirmed the match would go ahead as planned and emerged victorious.
Following the event, Jones said: ‘It feels good, obviously Gabi’s a legend for jumping into this.
‘I mean this is just for the athletes really, the people that currently run ADCC don’t really treat the athletes very well and Gabi’s participation in this has robbed her of her Hall of Fame when she’s already won four world titles.
‘This event was crazy, I couldn’t ask for better energy than this.
‘I’d do it again, I’d do it again… I’ve had death threats from ADCC from the organizers which is crazy, just ridiculous…
‘I don’t even think that event is worth talking about really, they’re over there fighting for some breadcrumbs.’
Garcia, meanwhile, said: ‘I want to cry because I see all this [crowd]. Guys, thank you everybody for coming here.
‘Thank you Craig for what he did for the sport, it’s amazing. The thing for me is you guys because when we die the medal and the plates don’t go with me, but I will be alive in all of you guys and I think, never fight for a medal, fight for what you love and what you believe.
‘I believe our sport can be bigger than ever and today I win this match because everybody, people can say ‘it’s a joke’ or they don’t agree. I call it self-respect because I do what I want and I don’t give a f*** about nothing.
‘For everyone who thought that the show wouldn’t happen and made jokes about us, motherf***ers!
‘I compete in ADCC for 18 years and today was the day that my brother died and this was for you brother, for my mum, my dad, my family and for you guys… Look at this here, this is my other family.’
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