Craig Jones has decided to create an unprecedented stir in the grappling world with his ambitious plans to host a tournament boasting a $1 million prize fund.
The Craig Jones Invitational, formerly BDCC, will take place on August 16 and 17 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, the same venue that hosted ADCC 2022 two years ago.
The decision to launch this event stems from Jones’ dissatisfaction with ADCC’s prize payments. Jones is determined to pay fighters significantly more than ADCC, aiming to elevate the status of BJJ athletes worldwide.
“I’m organizing an event that pays athletes 100 times more than ADCC pays its winners, and I will donate all ticket sales proceeds to charity,” Jones wrote on Reddit.
Jones confirmed and provided a screenshot showing that the tournament funds are secured and the participants will be paid in full. Nicky Ryan also confirmed this, stating:
“The screenshots of Jones’ account for the tournament are real, and there’s no scam involved. This money is very real,” Nicky Ryan declared.
Jones has also included a women’s division in the tournament, emphasizing that it would be unfair for female grapplers like Ffion Davies to miss out on rewards and not be part of the event.
What has particularly intrigued the Jiu-Jitsu community and sparked controversy is the fact that the tournament is scheduled to take place simultaneously with ADCC 2024.
This timing is intentional, as Jones aims to directly compete with ADCC, encouraging everyone to reconsider the payment and status of fighters. He has called upon fighters and the community to support his event, which promises significant rewards.
“Reach out to the fighters for me. Push them in the right direction,” stated Craig Jones.
Unsurprisingly, this move has not been well received by everyone at ADCC, especially its president, Mo Jassim, who has sharply criticized Jones’ intentions and event.
“Craig Jones is doing this just to counterprogram us or out of spite, and those aren’t legitimate reasons to do anything at all,” Mo Jassim stated.
Given that Jones is offering unprecedented rewards of $1 million for a single tournament, free streaming on YouTube, and a timing that directly competes with ADCC, this event could be crucial in improving the situation in Jiu-Jitsu.
ADCC is already feeling the impact, as qualified fighters are leaving the ADCC event for the CJI (Craig Jones Invitational).
Whether Jones’ move will bear fruit remains to be seen, but it is certain that many will question what is right and could set new standards for future events and compensation for Jiu-Jitsu fighters.
Craig Jones announced that former UFC champ Luke Rockhold is coming to his tournament. Also, Ffion Davies and William Tackett have withdrawn from ADCC. Jones also stated that more fighters are expected to join.
Whose side are you on? Do you think Jones’ move is the right one?
