CJI Liveblog: Craig Jones vs. Gabi Garcia

This is the live blog for the Craig Jones vs. Gabi Garcia superfight at the Craig Jones Invitational on Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As an IBJJF World Champion and two-time ADCC silver medalist, Jones is one of the faces of competitive grappling today. However, a dispute over revenue sharing at the ADCC prompted Jones to seek investors and start his own invitational tournament. While for many the two $1 million tournaments are the main attraction, the intersex grappling match against Garcia has also attracted a lot of attention.

Garcia, one of the most successful female wrestlers of all time, has previously toyed with the idea of ​​various gender matches, but ultimately settled on this one, largely out of respect for Jones and the financial incentives. If Garcia can beat Jones, it would be the crowning achievement of her already Hall of Fame career.

Check out the Craig Jones vs Gabi Garcia live blog below.

Before the fight: In case you missed it, Ffion Davies just defeated Mackenzie Dern with authority. It was awesome.

Can this be as impressive? We'll find out soon. It's definitely going to be something, but I'm not sure what yet. Superfight #2 is coming up.

Round 1: Jones immediately pounces on a leg (he also put on shorts instead of competing in trunks, so that's good). Garcia stretches it out and when Jones moves, Garcia is in with a bodylock and a lunge. Jones rolls to the leg, but Garcia knocks it down and Jones immediately gets a triangle lock.

Oh no. No, this isn't fun. Laranja is talking to Jones now and he's listening, trying to move into an inverted triangle while Garcia defends. This is turning into some kind of bad gimmick. But Garcia breaks out and pushes back and Jones gets back into the top half.

Jones tries a leg ride roll to take him back, but Garcia fights back, Jones gets up and then tries to jump off. He succeeds. Laranja is loud now and turns it into some pro wrestling nonsense. Now dueling footlocks.

This whole thing has become a real joke. Garcia can't really take on Jones and he's messing around, moving backwards with ease and then trying to attack with a leg pull, but Garcia tries a toe hold. Laranja is so loud and so awful. It's not good.

Jones rolls into the truck and has a twister ready but doesn't want it because that's not what this is about. Garcia tries to hit a wrist and Jones is still messing around in the truck while Garcia goes for the leg again and then gets away with amazing ease in the mount position. Garcia rolls him and Jones just lets it happen. That's ugly.

Round 2: Jones wins on all three judges’ scorecards with 10:9.

If you don't know who Renato Laranja is, consider yourself lucky. He only makes things worse with his pro wrestling stick.

Jones shoots and Garcia defends, but Jones rolls the Octopus Guard and is immediately North-South. Jones moves to side control and attacks the truck again. He moves in slightly and tries to attack the Twister. Gabi Garcia is an exceptional grappler and can't do anything here. If Jones tried, this would be over, but he's playing around and working the Twister now. He's in and it's just a matter of whether he goes for it or not.

Garcia doesn't give up and I assume that's because Jones isn't really trying. But now he drops down to crush the calf from the truck. Garcia defends and Jones moves to the backpack and attacks the RNC. He hits the chin but again he doesn't gas. Jones adjusts but no, then he dives to the legs. Jones is on the heel hook and does what he wants.

Garcia won't give up and Jones won't really hurt her, which is reasonable. So that's going to be a call. Garcia has an ankle hold now, but it's nothing. Jones really rolls into the flow. Moves back effortlessly and attacks with a choke, and eventually Garcia gives up.

That was gross. But afterwards they hugged each other.

Official decision: Craig Jones defeats Gabi Garcia by submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:39