A YOUNG Filipino jiu-jitsu artist has just added another feather on 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 I’ve been given this opportunity to compete in the Pan Kids here in Ontario,” said the 14-year-old Lopez, acknowledging the support that came her way in the competition.
Lopez was just as impressive as she was right in the first round of the competition.
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 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 actually entered at 95-lb division, but her dad, she said, moved her up by one division at 105 lbs due to the lack of opponents.
The organizer though moved her further at 115 lbs because she still did not have any opponents in the division as her supposed opponents in the 115 lbs were both overweight.
Organizers ended up moving her and the two overweight participants – Maya McKee and MacKenzie Cloutier – to 125 lbs.
