A video has been going viral where Craig Jones kisses Gabi Garcia during their showdown before the intergender jiu-jitsu match. Due to online backlash, Jones almost had to cancel the following duel.
On August 16, 2024, Jones and Garcia met for a mandatory face-off before their fight at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jones approached his opponent during the event and took off his glasses. However, to everyone’s surprise, he pulled Garcia’s face down to his and kissed her.
For a moment, Garcis doesn’t know how to react, so she pushes the fighter away, and he runs away. She then calls out Jones for his behavior and claims, “Man, Craig, really? Oh my god. You crossed the line.“
Soon, the clip gained thousands of views online, and many users commented on Jones’ unusual actions. They mentioned it was a foul move, as he intended to throw off Garcia before an important match.
On the other hand, many believed it was a prank, and both fighters consented to the video. One user commented, “Gabi Garcia is trying to attack Craig Jones after he kisses her and still does it awkwardly.“
However, Garcia’s reaction led many to believe otherwise and want her to file a lawsuit and cancel the match.
In response to the backlash, Jones initially tweeted, “Fights canceled. I guess Brazilians can’t take a joke!” However, after a meeting with the team, the fight returned the following day, and many put their bets on Garcia’s win.
Craig Jones won the jiu-jitsu match, but Gabi Garcia seemed to be people’s favorite after the event!
As one of the best grapplers in the world, Jones had put the event together and went head-to-head with the ADCC World Champions, including Nick Rodriguez, Adam Bradley, Pat Downey, and Inacio Santos.
The fighter had promoted the event through Joe Rogan’s podcast and brought $1 million in cash to promote the tournament. Moreover, each men’s division bracket had 16 competitors, and they received $10,001 for competing.
Apart from the men’s division, Jones was scheduled to face Garcia in the super fight as she was one of the most successful competitors in the female black belt divisions and a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame.
Craig Jones kisses Gabi Garcia at face-offs and initial reports was that the fight is now cancelled‼️👀
— Nosy Buzzer (@NosyBuzzer) August 17, 2024
#CGI #BJJ
However, the exhibition match might still be on.
Is this all PR or went too far..!?! Share your thoughts
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In the match with Jones, Garcia was dominated from the opening moments, and her opponent started using defensive techniques in the second round, making the fight even more aggressive.
Likewise, Jones locked up Garcia in a twister attempt and caught her in a heel hook. Luckily, Garcia escaped the attack and continued to tackle him throughout the event as the crowd cheered on for her support.
However, Jones didn’t hold back his techniques and locked Garcia in a rear-naked choke, forcing her to withdraw from the duel. The second round ended with only 20 seconds remaining on the clock.
Despite their previous spat, the fighters showed immense sportsmanship in the ring as they bowed and hugged each other after the event.
Garcia got emotional in the after-match interview when asked about her rivalry with Jones, as the crowd continued to chant her name.
Garcia managed to calm down and responded, “Thank you to everybody who came here. When I die, the medal and the plate don’t go with me, but I get to be alive in all you guys. Don’t fight for the title, fight for what you love and believe in.“
Additional Information
- Gabi Garcia spent her early and mid-teens playing volleyball, team handball, and field hockey. At 13, she switched to jiu-jitsu after moving to Sao Paulo and currently trains with Fabio Gurgel.
- Craig Jones is a two-time ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship silver medalist and a three-time Polaris Pro Grappling champion.
- According to sources, Gabi Garcia’s estimated net worth is $25.13 million, whereas Craig Jones’s estimated fortune is $15 million as of 2024.
