In the near-decade the former Pride FC boss Nobuyuki Sakakibara was out of the MMA world, the landscape changed. The UFC, once an overseas rival, has grown massively to dominate the global landscape. MMA in Japan has faded from a mainstream phenomenon to a hardcore subculture. The UFC’s event schedule doesn’t just dominate the MMA calendar, it is the MMA calendar. Everyone else just has to hope they can work around it.

But now, with his non-compete clause firmly in the past, Sakakibara is stepping firmly into this brand new MMA world. And to do so, it seems he’s bringing a lot of old tools with him under the banner of his new promotion: RIZIN Fighting Federation.

It’s no secret that Pride was home to some of MMA’s biggest spectacle (or freak, if you want to be unkind) fights in MMA history. And with a landscape scraped bare of elite veteran talent, that penchant for the bizarre is shining through in RIZIN. The latest entry in their matchup weirdness features 6’ 2”, 224lb former BJJ world champion Gabi Garcia taking on 5’ 7”, 52-year-old former pro-wrestler turned politician Shinobu Kandori in a New Year’s Eve bout.

And while it’s a fight that’s almost sure to draw eyes (even if they can’t believe what they’re seeing), it doesn’t sound like a bout Garcia herself was very eager to take. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Garcia revealed that she was only told of her opponent moments before the press conference announcing the bout and Sakakibara had to do some work to convince her to take it.

“When I told him I didn’t want this fight, that it’s not the type of fight I wanted for me right now, he explained her history in the sport, that she challenged me,” Garcia said. “She was the only Japanese that wanted to fight me. She fought men in the past, she has a history in judo, and she wanted to fight me. (Sakakibara) went to her gym to watch her train, too. In his head, this fight is like Bob Sapp against ‘Minotauro’ (Nogueira). It’s the concept of the Japanese show.

“It’s good for the market. I was shocked at how excited Japanese fans are for this fight. (Sakakibara) said ‘Gabi, this fight will be good for your name in Japan, good for us, and good for her.’ And now I have the obligation to win [laughs]. The last time I underestimated an opponent I lost, so I will never do that. I respect her history. I had losses to smaller girls in jiu-jitsu in the past, so I respect everyone.”

Whether or not Japanese fans are on board, and whether or not Garcia respects her opponent and is prepared to treat the bout like a true competitive test, the BJJ ace is also prepared for the backlash from the broader MMA community.

“I’ve received some criticism online, people saying there are heavier girls that want to fight me,” Garcia said. “I’ve seen seven heavier girls who want to fight me. There’s a kickboxing champion at Blackzilians who is taller and heavier than me, and she called me out. There’s a Brazilian girl, too. I’m an employee and I’ll fight anyone. I can turn down a fight, but this fight is important here in Japan. My opponent is really popular, and this fight is already huge here. And for those who want me in a bigger challenge, just ask Rizin. I want bigger girls too, but I believe this will come with time. This is my fourth MMA fight. And I don’t even know what will happen in the fight. I can’t underestimate anyone.”

Garcia added that she wasn’t even thinking about fighting at the end of the year initially, but that her bout against Destanie Yarbrough apparently “did big ratings in Japan.” As much as “30 times more” than what Kron Gracie and Mirko Cro Cop were able to bring for their bouts.

If Garcia can continue to be that kind of electric draw for Sakakibara’s Pride reboot, this bout could be the first of a number of strange sideshows that capitalize on her popularity. Fans will just have to hope that they don’t become the dominant narrative of her career going forward.