Craig Jones Invitational

Last updated
Craig Jones Invitational
Competition details
Discipline Submission grappling
TypeYearly
Organiser Craig Jones
Divisions
Current weight divisions
Men
  • +80 kg
  • -80kg kg
Women
History
First winner Nick Rodriguez (over 80kg)
Kade Ruotolo (under 80kg)
Helena Crevar (openweight)

The Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) is an international submission grappling tournament organized by Craig Jones.

Contents

The inaugural tournament was held August 16–17, 2024 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States. [1] [2] The event was streamed live on YouTube for free. [3] Nick Rodriguez won the 80kg+ division, and Kade Ruotolo won the −80kg division. The winner in each weight division received $1 million prize money.

The Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) was held August 30–31, 2025, returning to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. [4] CJI 2 featured a team-based grappling tournament won by The B-Team, an openweight women's tournament won by Helena Crevar, and a non-tournament superfight which saw Craig Jones defeat Chael Sonnen.

2024

Background

Craig Jones from B-Team Jiu-Jitsu is a two-time ADCC silver medalist. Disappointed with athlete pay at ADCC, he decided to host a tournament in which all invited athletes receive a higher minimum payout ($10,001) than the male winner of ADCC ($10,000). [5]

The two men's divisions scheduled for the 2024 tournament were under 80kg and over 80kg, and the winner of each bracket was to be awarded $1 million. Each men's division bracket had 16 competitors. Each participant received $10,001 for competing. [6]

On JRE MMA Show No. 157, an episode of Joe Rogan's podcast, Jones brought $1 million in cash to promote the tournament. [7]

A best submission bonus of $50,000 was announced. [8]

The dates and location were selected to overlap with ADCC 2024, which was held August 17–18, 2024 in Las Vegas.

Separate from the men's divisions, Craig Jones was scheduled to face Gabi Garcia in an intergender superfight, and Ffion Davies was scheduled to fight Mackenzie Dern in the women's superfight. [9] A superfight with Mikey Musumeci was also announced, [10] but ultimately did not occur due to a lack of a contractual agreement with Musumeci's planned opponent. [11] Mason Fowler was scheduled to fight in the over 80kg bracket but later withdrew from the competition due to injury. [12] [13]

Results

Over 80kg tournament

[14]

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalWinner
Flag of the United States.svg Nick Rodriguez Flag of the United States.svg Nick Rodriguez Flag of the United States.svg Nick Rodriguez Flag of the United States.svg Nick Rodriguez Flag of the United States.svg Nick Rodriguez
Flag of Brazil.svg Max Gimenis
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Owen Livesey Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Owen Livesey
Flag of Brazil.svg Mahamed Aly
Flag of the United States.svg Adam Bradley Flag of the United States.svg Adam Bradley Flag of the United States.svg Adam Bradley
Flag of the United States.svg Kyle Boehm
Flag of the United States.svg Luke Rockhold Flag of the United States.svg Pat Downey
Flag of the United States.svg Pat Downey
Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Hugo Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lucas Kanard Flag of Brazil.svg Inacio Santos Flag of Brazil.svg Fellipe Andrew
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lucas Kanard
Flag of Brazil.svg Inacio Santos Flag of Brazil.svg Inacio Santos
Flag of Brazil.svg Pedro Alex
Flag of the United States.svg Daniel Greg Kerkvliet Flag of Brazil.svg Fellipe Andrew Flag of Brazil.svg Fellipe Andrew
Flag of Brazil.svg Fellipe Andrew
Flag of Brazil.svg Joao Gabriel Rocha Flag of Brazil.svg Joao Gabriel Rocha
Flag of the United States.svg William Tackett

Under 80kg tournament

[15]

First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalWinner
Flag of the United States.svg Tye Ruotolo Flag of the United States.svg Tye Ruotolo Flag of Australia (converted).svg Levi Jones-Leary Flag of Australia (converted).svg Levi Jones-Leary Flag of the United States.svg Kade Ruotolo
Flag of the United States.svg Jason Nolf
Flag of Ecuador.svg Roberto Jimenez Flag of Australia (converted).svg Levi Jones-Leary
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Levi Jones-Leary
Flag of Brazil.svg Lucas ‘Hulk’ Barbosa Flag of Brazil.svg Lucas ‘Hulk’ Barbosa Flag of Brazil.svg Lucas ‘Hulk’ Barbosa
Flag of Japan.svg Kenta Iwamoto
Flag of South Africa.svg Jozef Chen Flag of South Africa.svg Jozef Chen
Flag of the United States.svg Andy Varela
Flag of the United States.svg Kade Ruotolo Flag of the United States.svg Kade Ruotolo Flag of the United States.svg Kade Ruotolo Flag of the United States.svg Kade Ruotolo
Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Diniz
Flag of Brazil.svg Renato Canuto Flag of Norway.svg Tommy Langaker
Flag of Norway.svg Tommy Langaker
Flag of Brazil.svg Magid Hage Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Eoghan O’Flanagan Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Tackett
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Eoghan O’Flanagan
Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Tackett Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Tackett
Flag of the United States.svg Nicky Ryan

Superfights

Reception

The event raised $500,000 for Tap Cancer Out charity. [19] The event's free YouTube stream was seen by over 100,000 concurrent viewers on both days of competition. [20]

The Craig Jones Invitational won both the Promotion of the Year and Fight Card of the Year awards at the 2024 Jits Magazine BJJ Awards. Kade Ruotolo vs. Andrew Tackett from the event's −80kg tournament won Jits Magazine's Match of the Year award. [21]

2025

Background

On December 8, 2024, Craig Jones announced a second Craig Jones Invitational tournament to be held in August 2025, with the 2025 tournament adopting a Quintet-inspired team format. [4] The event will stream for free on the FloGrappling YouTube channel.

The Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) is scheduled for August 30-31, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. CJI 2 is a two-day event, featuring an eight team tournament, an openweight women's tournament, and a superfight between Jones and Chael Sonnen (replacing an injured Gable Steveson). A total of 46 athletes are scheduled to compete at the event.

Teams in the $1 million team-based grappling tournament will consist of five grapplers, each representing a different weight class. Eight teams of five athletes will compete; participating teams are: Team 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu, The B-Team, Team New Wave, Team Atos, Team Europe, Team Pedigo Submission Fighting, Team Americas, and Team Australasia.

The $100,000 four-woman tournament will feature: Helena Crevar (Polaris and WNO Champion), Adele Fornarino (2024 ADCC double gold medalist), Ana Vieira (2024 ADCC Champion, 6x IBJJF World Champ), and Sarah Galvão (2025 IBJJF Grand Slam Winner). [22]

Teams

[23]

  • Flag of the Americas.png Team Americas
    • Flag of the United States.svg Gavin Corbe
    • Flag of the United States.svg Deandre Corbe
    • Flag of the United States.svg Elijah Dorsey
    • Flag of England.svg Taylor Pearman
    • Flag of the United States.svg Pat Downey
  • Flag of Europe.svg Team Europe
    • Flag of England.svg Owen Jones
    • Flag of Poland.svg Pawel Jaworski
    • Flag of Colombia.svg Paul Ardila
    • Flag of Brazil.svg Charles Negromonte
    • Flag of Poland.svg Marcin Maciulewicz
  • Flag of the United States.svg Team Pedigo Submission Fighting
    • Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Max Hanson
    • Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dante Leon
    • Flag of the United States.svg Jacob Couch
    • Flag of the United States.svg Michael Pixley
    • Flag of the United States.svg Brandon Reed
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Team Australasia
    • Flag of Brazil.svg Fabricio Andrey
    • Flag of Japan.svg Kenta Iwamoto
    • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lucas Kanard
    • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Declan Moody
    • Flag of New Zealand.svg Belal Etiabari

Results

[24] [25]

Team tournament

Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
         
Flag of the United States.svg Team New Wave
Flag of the Americas.png Team Americas
Flag of the United States.svg Team New Wave
Flag of Brazil.svg Team Atos
Flag of Brazil.svg Team Atos
Flag of Europe.svg Team Europe
Flag of the United States.svg Team New Wave
Flag of the United States.svg The B-Team
Flag of the United States.svg The B-Team
Flag of the United States.svg Team Pedigo Submission Fighting
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Team Australasia
Flag of the United States.svg The B-Team
Flag of the United States.svg Team 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Team Australasia

Women's tournament

[24] [25]

Semifinals Final
      
Flag of the United States.svg Helena Crevar
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adele Fornarino
Flag of the United States.svg Helena Crevar
Flag of the United States.svg Sarah Galvão
Flag of Brazil.svg Ana Vieira
Flag of the United States.svg Sarah Galvão

Superfight

References

  1. "Dates And Location Announced For Inaugural Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
  2. BJJ stars leave ADCC 2024 for $1M CJI prize MMA Uncensored, Anton Tabuena, May 30, 2024
  3. "Craig Jones announces $2 million tournament on same weekend as ADCC". grapplinginsider. 2024-05-24.
  4. 1 2 Jones, Phil. "Craig Jones Announces CJI 2 Confirmed For 2025 After Funding Secured". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  5. Jiu Jitsu Fighters Are Grappling With Exploitation Jacobin, Jack Bedrosian, June 2024
  6. "Legendary Jiu-jitsu Star Craig Jones Waging War On ADCC With Competing Invitational Tournament". deadspin. 2024-06-01.
  7. "Joe Rogan podcast guest flashes $1 million cash during interview to promote Jiu-Jitsu tournament: video". nypost. 2024-06-01.
  8. "Craig Jones Invitational Announces $50,000 'Best Submission' Bonus". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-23.
  9. UFC star Mackenzie Dern ‘couldn’t say no’ to Craig Jones Invitational paycheck MMA Mania, Alexander Behunin, August 11, 2024
  10. "Full Updated Competitor List For The Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
  11. Jones, Phil. "Mikey Musumeci Is Out Of CJI Superfight". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  12. "Mason Fowler Leaves ADCC 2024 For Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
  13. "Mason Fowler Withdraws From Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-07-27.
  14. "Craig Jones Invitational 2024 Live Results, Play-by-play, Analysis, Highlights, More". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  15. "Craig Jones Invitational 2024 Live Results, Play-by-play, Analysis, Highlights, More". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  16. "Ffion Davies Chooses Craig Jones Invitational Over ADCC 2024". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
  17. "Mackenzie Dern Booked Against Ffion Davies At Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-13.
  18. "Craig Jones Announces Intergender Match Against Gabi Garcia For Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
  19. de Souza, Diogo. "CJI Announces Over $500,000 Raised For Tap Cancer Out". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  20. Williams, Jackson. "Viewership Figures For Inaugural Craig Jones Invitational Announced". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  21. "The Jits Magazine 2024 BJJ Awards". Jits Magazine. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  22. Gilpin, Joe (July 22, 2025). "A Full Running List Of Teams & Grapplers For The Craig Jones Invitational 2". Flograppling.
  23. Tabuena, Anton (August 29, 2025). "CJI 2 brackets released: Everything to know about the biggest BJJ event of 2025". MMA Mania. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  24. 1 2 Tabuena, Anton (August 31, 2025). "CJI 2, Day 1: Live results, video highlights $1 million team tournament and women's semis". MMA Mania. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  25. 1 2 3 Tabuena, Anton (August 31, 2025). "CJI 2, Day 2: Live results, video highlights Craig Jones vs. Chael Sonnen". MMA Mania. Retrieved August 31, 2025.