Meet the monster standing by to answer Ronda Rousey's open challenge

By: IronHorse
@Ironhorse_somo
July 3, 2014

The current UFC Womens' Bantamweight (135 pound) Champion, Ronda Rousey, was recently quoted as having said :

Quote :

" It's definitely an interesting new challenge [fighting BJJ black belt Alexis Davis at UFC 175]. One thing that I couldn't stand when I was just watching MMA and coming from Judo was all these people talking about how the Jiu Jitsu people would beat any Judo player. It was such a stereotype that I thought, and still think, that I could beat any girl in the world, any weight division, gi or no gi, black belt and any ruleset they want, in just pure Jiu Jitsu."

Needless to say, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community was none too pleased with that statement, and quite a few female BJJ practitioners have stepped forward and declared themselves ready and willing to answer that challenge. One in particular, made my jaw drop, and had me thinking to myself "Ronda, there's no question you're a badass, but you just may have put your foot in your mouth."

Meet Gabrielle "Gabi" Lemos Garcia. She's a BJJ black belt under Fabio Gurgel. And no, that picture isn't doctored, she is that much bigger than Wanderlei Silva. She Stands 6 feet 2 inches tall, and weighs 236 pounds. And, as you can see, that is a solid 236 pounds, with "guns" most guys would envy. She's had quite a career as a BJJ practitioner, Including:

7x World Champion (2013 weight & absolute*, 2012, 2011 & 2010 weight and absolute, 2008)
4x Pan American Champion (2013*, 2011 & 2010 weight/absolute)
4x Brazilian National Champion (2011 black, 2010 brown weight & absolute, 2009 brown)
2x World No Gi Champion (2009, 2008)
2x World Jiu Jitsu Pro Cup Champion (2010, 2011)
ADCC Champion (2011)
European Champion (2011 absolute black)

*Stripped of her titles in 2013 due to the use of PED's.
* However: It is noted that although she was stripped of the titles accrued during her 2013 campaign, she was found to have used Performance Enhancing Drugs unknowingly, and was not suspended from the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation.

Quote :

Gabi Garcia answers Ronda Rousey's open challenge with this quote:

"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 professor Fabio Gurgel said, I'm ready and at her disposal to fight her under any rules, with or without gi."

There aren't very many women that I would take odds on against Ronda Rousey. However, in this case, with Ronda giving up 101 pounds, 6 inches in height, and an unknown reach advantage - not to mention a strength advantage that I would be hard pressed to even define, against a grappler as obviously skilled as Gabi Garcia - I wouldn't be very hesitant to lay my money down.

The only thing I can say is...

Wow... that's a frightening vision !

I went and checked out some of the photos of Gabi, and her physical progression leaves no doubt that she's a fan of "juice."

Early on, she looked somewhat "normal."

...but in my best Anderson Silva voice :

Es NOT normal !   

I know this much... I wouldn't get in the ring with her!  

Me neither !

Just ran across this....condensed into meme form.

I think most people know that Ronda Rousey meant any BJJ woman that would meet her at 135 she could beat, but a beast like this that is nearly twice her size isn't even a reasonable consideration.

Rousey Fan wrote:

I think most people know that Ronda Rousey meant any BJJ woman that would meet her at 135 she could beat, but a beast like this that is nearly twice her size isn't even a reasonable consideration.

But, if you read her quote above, she did say "any weight class." As for the rest, I agree.

IRONHORSE wrote:

Rousey Fan wrote:

I think most people know that Ronda Rousey meant any BJJ woman that would meet her at 135 she could beat, but a beast like this that is nearly twice her size isn't even a reasonable consideration.

But, if you read her quote above, she did say "any weight class." As for the rest, I agree.

I love Rousey, but that "any weight class" talk is a fantasy... this Gabi Garcia looks a bit like "The Thing" from the Fantastic 4 to me, and would simply rag doll Rousey.

I couldn't help myself, so I made a Gabi to Thing morphing GIF :

I've heard some MMA fans think that Rousey can beat Gabi Garcia.

On the surface of things, I just don't see how... but I'd actually have to look deeper into Gabi Garcia's history to be certain.

Watch some of her fight vids.... She's impressive.

I kind of discount those who say Ronda would beat her, right off hand like that. There are those out there who think Ronda could beat Godzilla, The Incredible Hulk, and Cain Velasquez - all at the same time. A strange sort of hero worship. Ronda is a badass - no question - but she's not invincible.

IRONHORSE wrote:

Watch some of her fight vids.... She's impressive.

I kind of discount those who say Ronda would beat her, right off hand like that. There are those out there who think Ronda could beat Godzilla, The Incredible Hulk, and Cain Velasquez - all at the same time. A strange sort of hero worship. Ronda is a badass - no question - but she's not invincible.

Exactly my feelings on the subject.

 Rousey/Carano/Justino threads since there's a lull in action before the next event.

Gabi Garcia Tests Positive For The Prohibited Substance Clomiphene After 2013 Worlds
http://www.bjjee.com/featured/gabi-garcia-tests-positive-for-the-prohibited-substance-clomiphene-after-2013-worlds/

Rich Davie wrote:

The only thing I can say is...

Wow... that's a frightening vision !

I went and checked out some of the photos of Gabi, and her physical progression leaves no doubt that she's a fan of "juice."

Early on, she looked somewhat "normal."

...but in my best Anderson Silva voice :

Es NOT normal !   

I went and looked too, and I agree.

MMA Fan wrote:

Gabi Garcia Tests Positive For The Prohibited Substance Clomiphene After 2013 Worlds
http://www.bjjee.com/featured/gabi-garcia-tests-positive-for-the-prohibited-substance-clomiphene-after-2013-worlds/

I did a little more research on this, and this substance is mainly banned for male competitors. Females gain no performance enhancement from it. In fact, it's usually prescribed to females as an aid in getting pregnant.

Also guys, I've been reading that Gabi's cutting weight down to 205 (shakes head...that's hard to compute) and is preparing to make her MMA debut towards the end of the year.

That should be interesting.

Where do you think she will make her MMA debut?

Bill Waugh wrote:

That should be interesting.

Where do you think she will make her MMA debut?

I honestly have no idea. I can't think of any promotions that have a women's 205 pound division. Heck, I wonder who she's going to fight?