A young Filipino jiu-jitsu artist has made heads turn in a recent tournament in Canada.
Yani Alexii Lopez combined speed and power to blank Maya McKee of Team Niagara BJJ Cicero Costha Canada, 20-0, in the girls gi teen 14-15 white grey belt championship match in the 2025 Great Lakes Jiu Jitsu Open-Canada in Ontario.
“I’m so thankful that I’ve been given this opportunity to compete in Pan Kids here in Ontario,” said the 14-year-old Lopez after the gold medal clash in the 125lbs category.
Lopez hinted of good things to come when she subdued Mackenzie Cloutier –another bet from Team Niagara BJJ (Cicero Costha Canada) – via submission with a cross-collar choke in the third minute.
Lopez was already enjoying a commanding 13-0 lead over the Canadian, before she gave her all to complete her dominant show with that cross-collar choke.
“In the first round, I was up 13-0 then I submitted her via cross collar choke in the third minute,” she said.
Lopez was actually entered at 95lbs division, but her dad moved her one division higher at 105lbs for lack of opponent. She was again elevated to a higher division at 115lbs but her opponents were both overweight.
The ending was, the organizers decided to move her, and the two overweight participants – Maya McKee and MacKenzie Cloutier – to 125lbs.
