Gabrielle and the rematch against Luzia

By Guilherme Cruz

Report and photo Eduardo Ferreira, from Abu Dhabi

Champions of the Brazilian’s trial, Luzia Fernandes and Gabriele Garcia are in the finals of the above 63kg category on World Pro, and this fight is special for Gabi. “I’ve been training since last year, when I got this defeat stuck in my throat”, tell the Alliance’s athlete, who lost the dispute of weigh and absolute on the last World, in California. “After I fought the absolute I wasn’t really motivated and the next fight would be for weight”, reminds.

But now things are different. Trial’s champ for the Worlds, the brown-belt wants a revenge. “I worked harder on the trainings and on my physical preparation, Fábio has been adjusting all my game, I’m doing Judo as well, because the girls on my category are heavy and most of them doesn’t do guard, so I have to bring something new to the fight”, tell the athlete, who has already fought one final today.

“Lana is the current champion of absolute and I was practicing so I would fight against her and, when I checked the keys, she was my first fight, my anticipated finale. I’m excited with my victories on Pan, where I submitted in all my fights in less than a minute”, tells, seeking for the gold. “Tomorrow I’ll give it all, I’ll do everything I can to beat Luzia, who trains Judo and is a tough opponent, but I’ll show my skills and pray to God”.

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