Brazilian Jiu Jitsu women's champ Gabi Garcia is set to debut in MMA fighting.
In a report by Bjjee.com, the nine-time world BJJ champion will face mixed martial arts veteran Megumi Yabushita at the Real Fight Championship at the Differ Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan on December 23, 2014. Real Fight Championship is based in China and managed by a Japanese group.
Garcia will turn 29 years old in November 2014. She is 6'2" and weighs 235 pounds. On the other hand, the giant-slayer Megumi is 42 years old, a bantamweight, stands 5'2", and weighs 134 pounds, according to a report by Sherdog. According to Bloody Elbow, Garcia plans to fight at around 205 pounds.
Tatame.com reported that Garcia has been "unmotivated" due to the lack of worthy opponents. She said, "I want to fight MMA now. I don't know when I will fight on a GI again. I'm unmotivated, not because I think I'm invincible, but we need to find another challenge. Many people is not fighting the absolute class, focusing on the weight classes, and I need another goal in life. If I am able to get down my weight, and if UFC or other events begin to have bigger weight classes, I will get down my weight as much as possible. Now I am going to train to defend my title in the ADCC."
Based on the same Bjjee.com report, Gabi has been working on her Muay Thai skills with Pedro Rizzo and improving her boxing skills with Washington Silva.
If Garcia remains successful in her MMA career, it can pave the way to an entrance to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where she can have the chance to face champion Ronda Rousey. According to GracieMag.com, Rousey previously insulted female Jiu-Jitsu fighters by saying that she can beat any of them with or without gi.
Various women BJJ champs responded hotly to Rousey's remarks, warning her to stay humble or join an official BJJ competition. Garcia also responded in the same GracieMag.com report, "I rather believe she didn't know what she was saying. It's not possible for someone to display such a lack of humbleness. She disrespected Jiu-Jitsu as a whole. The first quality of a champion is to be humble and to respect others. As my Professior Fabio Gurgel said, I'm ready and at her disposal to fight her under any rules, with or without gi."