A young Filipino jiu-jitsu artist has just added another feather to her cap as she shone in a tournament in Canada recently.
Yani Alexii Lopez showcased exceptional skills and power recently as she blanked Maya McKee of Team Niagara BJJ Cicero Costha Canada, 20-0, in a lopsided girls gi teen 14-15 white, grey belt championship match in the 2025 Great Lakes Kiu Jitsu Open-Canada in Ontario.
“I’m so thankful that they gave me this opportunity to compete in Pan Kids here in Ontario,” said the 14-year-old Lopez, as she acknowledged the support that came her way for the competition.
Lopez was just as impressive as she was right in the first round of the competition.
Lopez 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 an insurmountable 13-0 lead over the Canadian before she gave her all to complete the short work 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 entered at the 95lbs division, but her dad, she said, moved her up by one division at 105lbs for lack of any opponent.
The organizer, though, moved her further, at 115lbs, because she still did not have any opponents in the division, as her supposed opponents in the 115lbs were both overweight.
The ending was, the organizers decided to move her, and the two overweight participants, Maya McKee and MacKenzie Cloutier – to 125lbs.
