Promoter Craig Jones headlined Saturday’s CJI event. He took on IBJJF Hall of Famer Gabi Garcia in a men’s vs. women’s superfight. CJI was one hell of an event, to say the least. It had quite a few memorable instances from all parties. Turns out, Nate Diaz got to be in one of those in the vicinity of the fight.
The namesake event organizer Craig Jones fought on Day 2 second super fight after the Under 80kg semifinals. In the first super fight, Ffion Davies merced UFC’s Mackenzie Dern with a prime submission (armbar) in R2, 0:44 mark. Other UFC notables were present in the submissions grappling podium for Day 1 as well. Including Demetrius Johnson, Diaz, and Merab Dvalishvili who had adventures of his own and spoke to DJ about it afterwards.
Pioneer gangster Nate Diaz chanced upon Gabi Garcia but wanted no smoke from the hulking 6’2 Porto Alegre, Brazil native when she approached.
I have no problems…I have no problems! [laughs…]
Nate Diaz behind the apron, backstage, at CJI Day 1 at Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas
Nate Diaz himself is quite the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace himself. The southpaw from Team Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and his brother are still infamous as the cardio kings of UFC. Brother Nick Diaz, while absent from the game is the same. However, Gabrielle Lemos “Gabi” Garcia is just a different beast. A four-time ADCC gold medalist and six-time IBJJF world champion, she had teased about grappling with a male counterpart for years now, which she did admirably against Jones.
Really puts the intergender debate and the stigma against it or WMMA in particular in perspective if there are superstars like her sprawling about. Also if even a ‘Diaz’ does not want the smoke All mickeys and lighthearted face-to-face aside, talents do not get as bloated as Garcia. Deviating from the all-serious ADCC route, after their fight, even Jones agrees.
Craig Jones talks about his win over Gabi Garcia
The Abu Dhabi Combat Club veteran also has nine World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. On March 30, 2023, Garcia received her promotion to black belt judo as well. Gabi Garcia is one of the best at what she does and hence the pairing with Jones was one for ages. Garcia, 38, was prepping for an MMA fight in May and was thus lighter than her usual frame and posture. Even so, Jones was visibly lesser than the gargantuan submission wrestler.
Craig Jones lauds Gabi Garcia’s participation (Source: boxemag.com/Instagram)Craig Jones himself is no light matter either. The B Team Jiu-Jitsu fighter has been an IBJJF World No-Gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu, ADCC Submission Wrestling World Champ, and a three-time Polaris Pro Grappling champion. Though light-hearted, the grapplers gave it all in their highly technical exchanges. Despite the famous Renato Laranja reverting to an Australian accent and funny pro-wrestling shtick, the battle was something.
With him messing around a few times, Jones did not commit to cranking full strength in his heel hooks and calf crush from the truck. It was soon apparent that while he had the upper hand, he did not want to hurt the opponent in skill-to-skill testing. However, he defeated Garcia via submission (rear-naked choke) in R2, 4:39 mark. Afterwards, he had choice words praising the opponent.
Jones showing signs of respect and even giving away the first mic time to Garcia has earned praise from the combat world. As such the Craig Jones Invitational bracket tournaments and intergender grappling marks a landmark for jiu-jitsu as a sport. Jones lauded his opponent for agreeing to such.
