After almost a year away, Gabbie Gonzalez stepped back onto the competition floor at the Hammer Challenge Series — on an all-women team she met at Warrior In The Garden camp.
Originally published on Kunoichi & Shinobi.
Some comebacks are loud. Gabbie's took two short matches.On October 24, 2026, Gabriella "Gabbie" Gonzalez (@gabbie_trainsjj) stepped back onto the competition floor at the Hammer Challenge Series (@hcs_grappling), after almost a year away. She competed on an all-women team, invited by @katibuggs and @shelby_straughn.
In her own words, those matches were "more than just competition. They were a re-awakening."
It started at camp
Gabbie met her new teammates at Warrior In The Garden, the women-only no-gi camp we run at The Garden MMA in Philadelphia. That's the part we love most. The camp puts women from different gyms on the same mats for a weekend, and some of them leave with a team.
A year away from competing is a long time. Coming back takes nerve, and it's a lot easier when the people in your corner already know you.
What's next
Gabbie says she's fired up and that this is just the beginning. We believe her. Follow her on Instagram at @gabbie_trainsjj and watch the matches on her post.
Congratulations, Gabbie, and thank you to the Hammer Challenge Series for putting on a great event.
Want to find your team? Warrior In The Garden 4.0 is coming. Join the waitlist to hear the dates first.
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