Craig Jones criticized for forcibly kissing Gabi Garcia during weigh-in
Australian fighter Craig Jones is under fire after a controversial incident during the weigh-in for his upcoming intergender bout against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Gabi Garcia.
Craig Jones kisses Gabi Garcia at face-offs and the fight is now cancelled 😳 #CGI #BJJ pic.twitter.com/HBf0rqjyZN
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) August 15, 2024
On Thursday, Jones grabbed Garcia's head and forcibly kissed her on the lips, an act that has ignited widespread outrage on social media. Fans and commentators have condemned Jones for crossing a line, with footage of the incident quickly going viral.
You can’t just sexually assault someone “as a joke”
— James David Dickson (@downi75) August 16, 2024
The eagerly anticipated fight, scheduled for Saturday night, is part of the Craig Jones Invitational. Jones, a seasoned Jiu-Jitsu practitioner with 55 victories, will face Garcia, who boasts an impressive 71 wins in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and six in MMA.
Despite Jones' expertise, Garcia enters the ring as the heavier and taller competitor.
Garcia expressed her anger at the weigh-in, shouting, “You’re a b*tch, man, really? F**k you, you crossed the line.”
The upcoming bout is drawing comparisons to the famous Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs match, with many keenly awaiting the outcome.