As Australian grappler Craig Jones prepared to face off against Brazilian legend Gabi Garcia, an uninvited kiss during their pre-fight face-off sparked a firestorm of outrage online and cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a celebration of their skills.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu phenom, 38, went head-to-head with the 33-year-old male MMA fighter in the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The two fighters had agreed to an intergender Jiu-Jitsu fight, and fans were promised a high-stakes showdown during the match held on August 18.