Gabi Garcia offers tear-filled apology for missing weight at Rizin

A strange scene unfolded at Friday’s Rizin Fighting Federation show in Saitama, Japan as Gabi Garcia was brought into the ring to apologize for the weigh-in mishap that led to the cancellation of her bout with Japanese wrestling legend Shinobu Kandori.

Garcia’s gesture was necessitated by the fact that she badly missed weight for her fight with Kandori, coming in 26 pounds over the agreed limit of 209.4 pounds (95 kg). No official word was made until showtime, where Garcia and Kandori were noticeably absent from the opening roll call that featured all of the evening’s competitors.

Later, it was revealed that Garcia and Kandori would come out to address the crowd during the show and that’s when things became truly bizarre.

Kandori and Rizin official Nobuhiko Takada spoke to the crowd first, explaining in so many words that while it is a rare circumstance for a fight to be called off in Japan so long as both athletes are healthy, Garcia’s weigh-in gaffe was simply too egregious an error for the match to proceed. The 53-year-old Kandori insisted that she would still like to fight Garcia.

Takada then asked Garcia to enter the ring and say her piece:

“I’m talking fast, I just say sorry about this,” Garcia said. “It’s first time this happened in my life, but (I had problems) three weeks before the fight and I think I recover and my first training here, my nose is with blood and my blood pressure, I know (I had problems cutting weight).

“I respect her, I respect my opponent, she’s a legend here... I need to say sorry for all my fans in Japan, I love you guys and sorry (Nobuyuki) Sakakibara-san, Takada, sorry (Kandori) and I challenge you for next year... I hope you accept fight with me next year, I’m so sorry Japan, I love you guys and I’m back more strong than ever.”

That apology did not appear to be sufficient as she then proceeded to drop to her knees in the middle of the ring and express regret over her mistake even more profusely:

Update: Garcia released a statement on her social media on Friday morning.

Everyone is looking for an excuse, but when it comes to health and our lives they can say it's anything.

My life first.

Unfortunately a few days ago I measured my pressure and was high, I thought it was only that day.

When I got off the plane in Japan I went to my training and started to have a headache, my eyesight blurred and my nose bleeding all the time.

I warned my team, but I did not tell anyone because I did not give up.

After all my training, my nose was bleeding from leaving a towel next to it.

It was fine the night before and I decided to cut the weight the next morning, but I woke up with fever and again with my nose dripping, high blood pressure.

Too much stress before traveling, unfortunately I still do not control my body, but I control my decisions.

For those who have lost a brother, dying for a cut of weight would not be my choice.

All together, menstrual period, high blood pressure, it was necessary to cut 17 pounds.

I chose to live.

No need to post any explanation, but no one knows what people are going through.

Do not judge.

Thank you Rizin for cherishing my life.

I went up to the Saitama ring and apologized to my fans, who continue to support me and asked for my return.

I'm going to rest, and get better back in 2018.

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