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Gabi Garcia returns to Rizin to fight Brazilian kickboxer Barbara Nepemuceno on New Year’s Eve

The 6-foot-2 women’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu standout will return to MMA against Brazilian kickboxer Barbara Nepomuceno at Rizin 14 on Dec. 31 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan, Rizin announced Wednesday. The bout will be contested at 226 pounds.

Garcia (5-0, 1 NC) will make her return to Rizin for the first time since last year’s New Year’s Eve show when her fight with Shinobu Kandori was canceled after Garcia missed weight by 28 pounds. The BJJ world champion fought most recently for ROAD FC, beaten Veronica Futina by first-round submission back in May. Garcia, 33, fought to a no contest in Rizin against Oksana Gagloeva in July 2017 when Gagloeva could not continue following a Garcia eye poke.