Craig Jones is the undisputed king of chaos in the grappling world. Honestly, if you thought the first CJI was a fluke, you haven’t been paying attention. He didn't just come back; he completely flipped the script for the Craig Jones Invitational 2.
Gone was the standard 16-man bracket we saw in the first iteration. Instead, Craig leaned into the "Quintet" style team format. It was a gamble. Some fans found the first day a bit slow—lots of draws, lots of tactical stalemates. But by day two? The Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas was vibrating.
The $1 Million Team War: B-Team vs. New Wave
The rivalry between B-Team and New Wave is the "Lakers vs. Celtics" of modern Jiu-Jitsu, except with more Rashguards and way more trashtalk on Instagram. Most people expected a clean finish, but what we got was a technical rabbit hole that left everyone checking the rulebook.
Basically, the final came down to a series of draws. Five matches, five double eliminations. Under the specific CJI 2 rules, if the team duel ends in a stalemate, it goes to the judges' scorecards. The judges somehow saw it as a 47-47 tie. Total deadlock.
So, how did B-Team walk away with the check? It came down to a technicality. The tie-break was decided by the result of the final bout: Nick Rodriguez vs. Luke Griffith. Because the judges scored that specific match a 10-8 for Nicky Rod, B-Team was declared the winner.
The Controversy and the Second Million
Here’s where it gets wild. Craig Jones, ever the promoter, later announced he’d award a second $1 million to New Wave because of the scoring confusion. However, reports surfaced shortly after that the prize money for New Wave wasn't actually distributed in the same way. It created a massive rift in the community. You’ve got half the fans saying B-Team earned it and the other half claiming the rules were intentionally vague to create "drama."
Whether it was a marketing masterstroke or a genuine mess, it kept CJI 2 at the top of the trending page for weeks.
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Helena Crevar’s Historic $100,000 Night
While the men were arguing over team points, the women’s division was busy making history. The Craig Jones Invitational 2 featured a four-woman openweight bracket with a $100,000 prize. That is the largest single payout for a female grappler in the history of the sport. Period.
Helena Crevar is a phenom. There's no other way to put it. She’s young, technical, and seemingly unfazed by the bright lights of Vegas.
- Semi-final: She took a hard-fought decision over ADCC champion Adele Fornarino.
- Final: She faced Sarah Galvão.
- The Finish: Crevar secured an Aoki Lock in the third round to end the debate.
It wasn't just about the money; it was about the shift in power. Seeing a teenager dominate world-class champions on a stage this big proves that the "new guard" of grappling isn't just coming—they're already here.
The "Pit" and the Rule Changes
If you’ve only ever watched IBJJF matches on a flat yellow mat, the CJI "Pit" looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. It's a slanted-wall structure designed to stop resets.
In traditional grappling, if you get too close to the edge, the ref blows the whistle and moves you back to the center. It kills the momentum. In the Pit, you just slide back down or use the wall to scramble.
Why the Second Day Was Better
Craig noticed the "boring" tag on social media after Day 1. His solution? A $50,000 submission bounty for every sub on Day 2. Suddenly, athletes weren't playing for the draw anymore.
- Victor Hugo became a human highlight reel, collecting two arm-triangle finishes.
- Fellipe Andrew and Giancarlo Bodoni also cashed in.
- Total bonuses handed out on Sunday reportedly cleared several hundred thousand dollars.
Craig Jones vs. Chael Sonnen: The Spectacle
You can't talk about the Craig Jones Invitational 2 without mentioning the superfight. Chael Sonnen, the "American Gangster," stepped in to face Craig. Was it a high-level technical battle? Not really. Was it entertaining? Absolutely.
Craig submitted Chael with a buggy choke almost immediately. Then, because the crowd wanted more, they literally just did it again. Chael got caught in the exact same move a second time. It was the perfect "intermission" for an event that refuses to take itself too seriously.
How to Apply These Insights to Your Training
Watching CJI 2 isn't just about the drama; it's a blueprint for where the sport is going. If you're a competitive grappler or just a fan, here's what you should take away from the event:
- Prioritize the Scramble: The "Pit" format rewards athletes who can move dynamically when their back is against a wall. Don't just accept a position because you're out of bounds.
- Master the Leg Entries: Helena Crevar’s victory was a masterclass in using leg entanglements to nullify a more aggressive passer. The Aoki Lock is becoming a "must-know" finish.
- Understand Scoring Nuances: Just like B-Team's win, many local tournaments are moving toward a "10-point must" system. Winning the round decisively (the 10-8) is often more important than just "surviving."
- Watch the Replays for Free: Unlike other major grappling events that hide behind expensive paywalls, Craig keeps these on YouTube. Go back and watch the B-Team vs. New Wave final specifically to see how Nicky Rod uses his "anti-wrestling" to dictate the pace.
The Craig Jones Invitational 2 proved that the sport doesn't need a traditional structure to be successful. It needs high stakes, real rivalries, and a bit of chaos.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the full Day 2 replay on the FloGrappling YouTube channel to see the $50,000 submission finishes in real-time.
- Follow the individual athletes like Jozef Chen and Dorian Olivarez; their "technical" style is the new gold standard for the under-80kg divisions.
- Keep an eye out for announcements regarding CJI 3, as the team format is likely to evolve even further to avoid the draw-heavy scenarios we saw in the early rounds of this year's event.