If one match ever epitomised the effectiveness of Jiu-Jitsu, it’s this.
Like a BJJ version of Rocky, Mackenzie Dern looked like she was going to be destroyed by the towering figure of Gabrielle Garcia who was a nine-time women’s world champion.
But Dern demonstrated the most basic tenet of Jiu-Jitsu – technique trumps strength, as she gave Brazil’s Garcia her first loss in the black belt division.
The pint-sized American took the lead over the 6ft 1in, 190+lb Garcia thanks to a penalty point and held out for the victory in the Abu Dhabi World Pro open class semi-final.
“I always believed in my abilities that I could defeat her, not just her but anybody on the right day,” Dern said after her victory.
The 120lb, 5ft 1in athlete went on to seal gold in the final after she dominated another Brazilian Vanessa Nascimento 6-0.
Ah Jiu-Jitsu, how we love thee.
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