The jiu-jitsu ace competed twice in July in Japan, but both fights ended in no-contests due to an illegal soccer kick in Shootboxing and an unintentional eye poke in MMA. Garcia had a chance to end the year on a better note at Rizin’s Dec. 29 card in Saitama, but only entered the ring to apologize.
Garcia was heavily criticized for accepting an MMA fight with 53-year-old Shinobu Kandori, who hasn’t fought in 17 years, and the criticism became even worse after she showed up 26 pounds overweight. The fight was canceled, and Garcia returned to California with nothing to show for it.