Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon took some time on Sunday to talk with GRACIEMAG about how far BJJ competitors can go to support a fight.
With his love of trash talking, it should come as no surprise that Garry thinks there is plenty of room for talking smack when it comes to promoting a match.
“I believe that there’s room for being respectful and a bit of shit talking,” Tonon told GRACIEMAG. “Having fun, creating some drama, creating a storyline. Where does it cross the line? I don’t know. I’ve always been a huge believer in there never being a line that you can’t cross. We [he and other members of his gym] come from Jersey. We just constantly make fun of each other, each other’s mothers. We don’t care.”
Garry also recognizes the entertainment value in such trash talking, especially for a growing sport like competitive Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
“People go to the movies to see drama. They don’t go to the movies to see somebody just living their life perfectly happy and nothing goes wrong. So, I think that’s what we’re trying to create. Is it going to rub some people the wrong way? Yeah. I’m ready for that.”
Garry Tonon took on Kim Terra on Sunday, December 18 at Studio 540 in Solana Beach, California. He won via arm-in guillotine choke.
You can watch his entire interview with GRACIEMAG below.
