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Gabi Garcia: Rizin FF Fighter Claims She Is ‘Open To Fighting A Man… If No Woman Steps Up’

By Patrick Frye
Published on: 15:57 PST, Aug 14, 2016

Gabrielle Garcia, simply known as Gabi Garcia, is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner, grappling world champion, and member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame. These days, she is making headlines in women’s MMA, but it is very rare to find fighters in her weight class. As a result, Gabi Garcia made it known that she is “open to fighting a man… if no woman steps up.”

According to an exclusive interview with TMZ, Gabi Garcia – who towers above the competition at 6’2? and weighs 238 pounds, said she is willing to fight a man if she can’t find a worthy female opponent. Garcia, along with her trainer Renato Sobral, made it known of their openness to showcase a real “battle of the sexes.”

Gabi Garcia is a real beast in MMA, as she is able to utilize the fact she’s a world champion in BJJ. As many MMA fans know, BJJ has proven to be a major factor in victory for many MMA fighters these days. Ronda Rousey was undefeated for 12 fights in which nine of those fights were won with her patented armbar (against Ediane Gomes, Charmaine Tweet, Sarah D’Alelio, Julia Budd, Sarah Kaufman, Liz Carmouche, Cat Zingano, and Miesha Tate twice). She won another fight, against Alexis Davis, with a Judo takedown followed by multiple punches to the head.

Ronda Rousey won all the aforementioned fights with Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and even won medals in the Olympics for such. With Gabi Garcia’s size, many would say she would be a force to be reckon with. Add in her MMA training by her coach, Renato Sobral, who is a former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and UFC title contender, Garcia might be unstoppable.

As of right now, Gabi Garcia is undefeated in MMA. Through the MMA promotion Rizin Fighting Federation (Rizin FF), she has two wins and no losses. According to her fight record on Sherdog, Garcia defeated Seini Draughn (Lady Tapa in TNA) back in December of 2015. Back in April, Garcia defeated Anna Malyukova, a kickboxing world champion who was brought into MMA to specifically fight Garcia.

Sadly for Gabi Garcia, it is very hard for Rizin FF to find opponents for her. There simply aren’t enough women in her weight class to fight Garcia. As for other women in lighter weight classes, they may not be willing to make that jump to take on someone who is far heavier, taller, and stronger than them especially if they are just as well-trained in MMA as them. It’s a disadvantage. Garcia understands, that and that is why she shoots down all the hype built up whenever someone pairs her to fight Ronda Rousey.

At this rate, Gabi Garcia fighting men might become a reality if MMA approves it. According to an article by iSports Times, Renator Sobral thinks such will happen in about a year’s time.

“I think eventually, down the road, if they have anyone they want to step up and try out I think that can happen in the future. A year from now, if they don’t have any more girls [for her to fight], her only chance to fight will have to be against men, and they better watch out because they’re going to get knocked out by a girl.”

Renato Sobral even claims that Gabi Garcia’s level of training if flowing quickly and she is waiting for another strong woman to compete against inside the cage. From what is rumored, Garcia might get her third opponent in an upcoming Rizin FF event on September 25, though it is unknown who said opponent is.

[Image via Gabi Garcia’s Official Facebook]

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