Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Gabi Garcia finishes Lei'd Tapa via TKO in MMA debut
Gabi Garcia didn't need an ounce of her Brazilian jiu-jitsu pedigree.
The 10-time BJJ world champion finished pro wrestler Lei'd Tapa via TKO in the first round in her MMA debut Thursday at Rizin Fighting Federation 2 in Japan. It was sloppy, wild few minutes that Garcia eventually stopped with punches on the ground.
Tapa, who has worked for TNA Impact wrestling, rocked and dropped Garcia in the opening seconds with a left hand. Garcia, though, recovered and got more comfortable standing up. Garcia hurt Tapa a couple of times on the feet and dropped her with an errant backfist before the ground-and-pound finish.
Garcia, 30, has been training at Kings MMA alongside the likes of UFC champions Fabricio Werdum and Rafael dos Anjos for this fight. Tapa trains at American Top Team.