Now Jiu Jitsu is causing a gender row as a male fighter controversially kisses his 6-foot-1 female opponent before choking her in the sport’s first mixed-gender match

A 6-foot-1 male Jiu Jitsu fighter has choked and defeated a female opponent in the sport’s first ever opposite-sex match, after controversially kissing her first.

Australian fighter Craig Jones grabbed his 6ft 3in rival Gabi Garcia’s face and kissed her on the lips in the build-up to the fight, shocking viewers.

That led to a confrontation at the face-off when Garcia, from Brazil, could be heard saying: “Man. You’re a b***h man. Craig, really? F*** you – you crossed the line, crossed the line, crossed the line.”

Garcia, 38, is actually taller than her opponent although Jones is reportedly the heavier of the two at 107kg to 93kg.

The buildup to the match began in surprising fashion when Jones grabbed Garcia’s head and kissed his lips before they entered the ring in Las Vegas.

Gabi Garcia expressed her gratitude and respect for Craig Jones after her defeat

She screamed in response and was seen chasing Jones as he fled the scene last Thursday.

Jones later wrote on social media, “Brazilians can’t take a joke” and that the fight had been canceled, before saying it would “go back on.”

And Jones, 33, was able to control his opponent throughout last night’s fight, while Garcia struggled to keep him from executing a submission.

His victory was met with boos as he released the hold.

After footage of the conflict went viral online, one shocked viewer posted: “Wait a minute, was this a real fight?” while another wrote: “I still can’t believe this actually happened.”

Still, the fighters shared a moment of respect in the ring: Garcia knelt and bowed her head to the mat as a sign of respect for her opponent.

She then thanked Jones on social media after her defeat.

In an Instagram story, Garcia said, “I really want to express my gratitude and love for you @craigjonesbjj!

“This month you have worked hard and changed the sport! I hope people get the chance to know you one day!

‘You [sic] You are an incredible person! Really! Funny and now one of my best friends! I am proud of you! You [sic] made!!

‘Thank you for giving me the chance to make another dream come true!

Craig Jones won the match against Gabi Garcia by a rear naked choke in the second round

‘I’ve been waiting a lifetime for this moment and it only happened because of you! From my heart love and respect!’

The conflict follows controversies at the 2024 Paris Olympics over the gold medal-winning performances of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting in women’s boxing.

The 25-year-old Algerian boxer Khelif, who is not a transgender woman, is said to have male ‘XY chromosomes’, leading to her disqualification from the 2023 world championships.

She and Lin failed an unknown gender test at the time from the now-banned International Boxing Association, after which the International Olympic Committee took charge of boxing events at the 2024 Games in Paris.

Some sports have restrictions on the amount of testosterone athletes can produce in women’s competitions, while other sports ban anyone who has already reached male puberty.

Sexual dysfunction disorders are a group of rare conditions involving genes, hormones, and reproductive organs.

Some people with DSD are raised as female, but have XY sex chromosomes and blood testosterone levels similar to males.

The IOC said the rules for participation are based on those of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and cannot be changed during a competition.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk and Harry Potter author JK Rowling were among the prominent figures spearheading the uproar over Khelif’s participation in this summer’s Games, where the Algerian fighter won gold.

Now Khelif has filed a lawsuit with the French authorities for ‘aggravated cyber harassment’. The possible penalties for this have now been announced. There is also the possibility that more well-known names could be targeted.