Craig Jones Invitational is a planned international submission grappling tournament to be held 16–17 August 2024 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.[1][2] The winner in each weight division will receive $1 million prize money, and the event will be streamed on YouTube for free.[3]
| Craig Jones Invitational | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Venue | Thomas & Mack Center |
| Location | Las Vegas, USA |
| Dates | 16–17 August 2024 |
| Website | https://fightfoundation.com |
Background
editCraig Jones 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).[4]
There will be two men's divisions: men −80 vkg and men 80+ vkg, and the winner of each bracket will be awarded $1 million. Each participant will receive $10,001 for competing.[5]
During Joe Rogan podcast episode JRE MMA Show No. 157, Craig Jones brought $1 million in cash to promote the tournament.[6]
ADCC
editAt ADCC the prize for the 1st place at men's −66 kg/−77 kg/−88 kg/−99 kg/+99 kg is $10,000, the 2nd place is $5,000, the 3rd place is $3,000, the 4th place is $1,000; the prizes at women's −60kg/+60kg divisions are $6,000 for the 1st place, $3,000 for the 2nd place, $2,000 for the 3rd place, $1,000 for the 4th place; for absolute weight class (men) the prizes are $40,000 for the 1st place, $10,000 for the 2nd place, $5,000 for the 3rd place, $1,000 for the 4th place; super fight prizes are $40,000 to the winner and $10,000 to the loser; there are additional awards: $1,400 to the best fighter, $1,400 best takedown award, $1,400 for the fastest submission, $1,400 best fight of competition (split); total prize money is $230,600.[7] A best submission bonus $50,000 was announced on June 23th 2024.[8]
In January 2024 Gordon Ryan suggested that ADCC should increased winner payout to $250,000+ per division.[9]
Participants
editThere will be two men's divisions: under 80 kg and over 80 kg. Each men's division will have 16 competitors. Separate from the men's divisions, Craig Jones will face Gabi Garcia in an inter-gender superfight, and Ffion Davies will face Mackenzie Dern in the women's superfight.[10]
Men under 80 kg
edit
USA Andrew Tackett[11]- USA Nicky Ryan[12]
ZA
GER
TWN Jozef Chen[13]
BRA Lucas ‘Hulk’ Barbosa[14]- BRA Renato Canuto[15]
- BRA Matheus Diniz[16]
UK Eoghan O’Flanagan[17]
NOR Tommy Langaker[18]
AUS Levi Jones-Leary[19]- USA Jason Nolf[20]
- USA Andy Varela[21]
- USA Kade Ruotolo[22]
- USA Tye Ruotolo
ECU USA Roberto Jimenez[23]- BRA USA Magid Hage[24]
Men over 80kg
edit- USA William Tackett[25]
- USA Luke Rockhold[26]
- USA Nick Rodriguez[27]
- USA Mason Fowler[28]
- BRA Joao Gabriel Rocha[29]
- BRA Victor Hugo[30]
- UK Owen Livesey[15]
- BRA Fellipe Andrew[31]
- BRA Max Gimenis
- USA Adam Bradley
- BRA Inacio Santos[32]
- USA Pat Downey[33]
- BRA Pedro Alex[34]
- USA Kyle Boehm
Superfights
edit
Wales Ffion Davies[35] vs. BRA USA Mackenzie Dern[36]- AUS Craig Jones vs BRA Gabi Garcia[37]
- USA Mikey Musumeci vs TBD[38]
References
edit- ^ "Dates And Location Announced For Inaugural Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
- ^ BJJ stars leave ADCC 2024 for $1M CJI prize MMA Uncensored, Anton Tabuena, May 30, 2024
- ^ "Craig Jones announces $2 million tournament on same weekend as ADCC". grapplinginsider. 2024-05-24.
- ^ Jiu Jitsu Fighters Are Grappling With Exploitation Jacobin, Jack Bedrosian, June 2024
- ^ "Legendary Jiu-jitsu Star Craig Jones Waging War On ADCC With Competing Invitational Tournament". deadspin. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Joe Rogan podcast guest flashes $1 million cash during interview to promote Jiu-Jitsu tournament: video". nypost. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "ADCC Championship Prize Money Allocation". adcombat. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Craig Jones Invitational Announces $50,000 'Best Submission' Bonus". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-23.
- ^ "Gordon Ryan Says That ADCC Should Increase Winner Payouts To $250k+ Per Division". bjjee. 2024-01-13.
- ^ "Full Updated Competitor List For The Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Tackett Brothers Withdraw From ADCC 2024 For CJI, Replaced By Andy Varela And Elder Cruz". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Nicky Ryan Withdraws From ADCC 2024 To Compete At Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Jozef Chen Announces Appearance At Craig Jones Invitational (CJI)". bjjee. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Lucas 'Hulk' Barbosa Enters Under 80kg Division At Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
- ^ a b Rogers, Kian (June 9, 2024). "Owen Livesey And Renato Canuto Join Craig Jones Invitational". Jits Magazine.
- ^ "Matheus Diniz Becomes Latest Champion To Leave ADCC 2024 For Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-09.
- ^ "Eoghan O'Flanagan Joins Craig Jones Invitational At Under 80kg". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-11.
- ^ "Tommy Langaker Becomes Latest To Leave ADCC 2024 For Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-14.
- ^ "Levi Jones-Leary Withdraws From ADCC 2024 For Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-14.
- ^ "Three-Time NCAA Champion Jason Nolf Joins Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-14.
- ^ "Andy Varela Leaves ADCC 2024 For Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-16.
- ^ "Both Ruotolo Brothers Leave ADCC 2024 To Join Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-20.
- ^ "Roberto Jimenez Withdraws From ADCC 2024 To Join Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Magid Hage Becomes Latest Man To Leave ADCC 2024 For Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Competition for ADCC? Craig Jones Announces $1 Million Prize Tournament". tackettjiujitsu. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Luke Rockhold Set To Compete At Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Nicky Rodriguez Leaves ADCC 2024 To Enter Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Mason Fowler Leaves ADCC 2024 For Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Joao Gabriel Rocha Announced For Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-05.
- ^ "Victor Hugo Withdraws From ADCC 2024 To Enter Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-05.
- ^ "Top Gi Competitor Fellipe Andrew Joins Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Trials Winner Inacio Santos Leaves ADCC 2024 For Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-22.
- ^ "Pat Downey Joins Over 80kg Division Of Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-23.
- ^ Pedro Alex Joins Over 80kg Division Of Craig Jones Invitational Jits Magazine, Kian Rogers, June 26, 2024
- ^ "Ffion Davies Chooses Craig Jones Invitational Over ADCC 2024". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
- ^ "Mackenzie Dern Booked Against Ffion Davies At Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Craig Jones Announces Intergender Match Against Gabi Garcia For Craig Jones Invitational". jitsmagazine. 2024-06-01.
- ^ Mikey Musumeci Joins Craig Jones Invitational For Superfight Phil Jones, June 25, 2024