Former judo star-turned-pro wrestling legend Shinobu Kandori has issued a final challenge for grappling star Gabi Garcia to face her, eight years after they were originally scheduled to fight in RIZIN.
Kandori, who turns 60 in October, who won bronze at the World Judo Championships in 1984 before moving to pro wrestling in 1986 and is still active on the Japanese independent circuit.
The charismatic fighter made had a number of ‘MMA’ fights under the banner of the Ladies Legend Pro Wrestling (LLPW) promotion between 1995 and 2000 with her last outing coming in 2000 as she defeated fellow joshi pro wrestling legend Yumiko Hotta with an armbar.
Kandori was due to face Brazil’s grappling legend Gabi Garcia, 38, on RIZIN’s New Years Eve show in 2016 but the former pulled out due to a rib injury.
A year later the ill-fated bout was called off again after Garcia weighed in 13kg over the contracted weight limit.
Since the four-time ADCC winner, who holds a 6-0-0 (1 NC) MMA record, is back in the headlines after her intergender superfight against Craig Jones one week ago, Kandori decided to reissue her challenge to face the IBJJF Hall of Famer in an MMA or grappling match.
"If I have the chance, I'd like to fight her,” Kandori told Tokyo Sports.
“I still have regrets (that I couldn’t fight Gabi). Grappling rules would be fine."
Garcia lost out by rear naked choke at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational but earned plaudits for her gutsy performance and received a huge ovation from the crowd in Las Vegas at the Thomas and Mack Center where PRIDE FC’s penultimate event (PRIDE 33) took place in 2007.
Kandori added that she was pleased to see Garcia back competing.
"I'm really happy. It's pleasing news that she's doing her best. At one point, there were reports that she might not be able to return, so I'm excited now."
Former politician Kandori, who was a Member of the House of Councillors from 2006 – 2010, will celebrate her 60th birthday by holding a pro wrestling event at Tokyo Dome City Hall on 18 November.
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