The pre-fight face-off has long been used to build hype for fights. Over the years, unexpected events have made these face-offs more exciting for fans and intense for fighters. However, some face-offs are clearly staged for marketing purposes, going over the top to generate buzz. Fans think that’s what happened with the recent infamous kiss between Craig Jones and Gabi Garcia.
The inter-gender Jiu-Jitsu showdown is set to feature Jones, a 6-footer tipping the scales at around 200 lbs, squaring off against the 6’2”, 210+ lb Garcia. The recent face-off made it so wild for the fans, and it was unthinkable because the Aussie star surprised everyone by kissing Garcia.
Jones claimed the fight was off shortly after the kiss incident, but Garcia clarified that it would still happen on August 17. With all the drama, some fans think the whole thing was a marketing stunt to hype up the event. Either way, it certainly got everyone talking. Here’s what fans said.
Some fans labeled it fake, others hailed it as a marketing genius, and some were left confused by what they witnessed.
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Meanwhile, fans and Gabi Garcia believe the Craig Jones fight is a marketing masterstroke. For the first time, she’s seeing fans cheering for her.
Gabi Garcia Believes Craig Jones’ Inter-gender Fight Is “Good Marketing’’ For Her
Garcia mentioned to MMA Fighting that the unusual matchup seems to be working in her favor. Given that it’s her first time, she is seeing fans support her despite the usual negativity she faces.
She stated, “He’s revolutionizing the game with this idea… And for me, it’s good marketing. It’s more than fighting a man. The American audience has never really liked me, you know? I’ve always dealt with hate. And for the first time in my career, I feel 99 percent of the people are on my side.”
While it’s definitely a marketing genius from both sides, it will be interesting to see whether the infamous kiss adds more intensity to the fight or ends up being underwhelming. But one thing is certain: all eyes are on Jones, one of the greatest Jiu-Jitsu stars, as he faces off against Garcia, a four-time ADCC gold medalist and six-time IBJJF World Champion.
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