- Craig Jones has dropped a bombshell on the jiu-jitsu world: the Australian grappling star is strongly signaling that he’ll retire after his next appearance at CJI 2.
- In a July 14 statement, Jones said he was “winding down” his competitive career, calling the CJI bracket “potentially my last tournament.”
- While this isn’t the formal announcement of a Craig Jones retirement, the writing appears to be on the wall.
- Jones hinted at deeper frustrations: “It’s hard to have a gym with five or six owners.
“The upcoming CJI is potentially my last tournament… Just don’t feel like doing it anymore.”
– Craig Jones –
What makes this Craig Jones retirement announcement more impactful is that it coincides with growing uncertainty about the future of B-Team Jiu-Jitsu, the Austin-based academy Jones co-founded in 2021 after splitting from John Danaher and the original Danaher Death Squad.
The timing isn’t a coincidence. His looming departure from competition and the possible collapse—or rebranding—of B-Team suggest a full-scale reset is underway.
Ownership Drama and Identity Crisis Inside B-Team
Behind the scenes of the Craig Jones retirement, B-Team appears to be struggling with its internal structure. While originally promoted as a playful alternative to Danaher’s ultra-serious system, the team has operated with an unusually broad ownership base.
In addition to Jones, the team has included Nicky Ryan, Ethan Crelinsten, and Nicky Rod as key figures. But it’s the emergence of non-competitive grappler Seth Belisle as a business partner that has raised eyebrows.
“He [Seth] bought his way into B-Team… he doesn’t train, he doesn’t compete, but somehow he’s in the circle.”
Jones has not publicly criticized Belisle directly, but he has alluded to a disconnect in vision among the owners.
Rebranding efforts are reportedly underway, possibly shifting toward the name “Simple Man Jiu-Jitsu”—a nod to Jones’ minimalist, no-nonsense persona. Whether that will be a full break or just a name change remains to be seen.
Gordon Ryan Reacts: “That’s What Happens When You Have No Leadership”
As expected, Gordon Ryan didn’t let the Craig Jones retirement quasi-announcement pass quietly. The reigning ADCC absolute champ took to social media to take shots at both Jones and the B-Team structure.
“Craig quitting and the team falling apart isn’t surprising. That’s what happens when you have no leadership and everyone’s doing their own thing.”
– Gordon Ryan –
Ryan’s criticisms weren’t limited to Jones. He called B-Team “a brand built on memes and marketing,” and contrasted their downfall with the structure he enjoys under John Danaher at Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu.
Whether one sees Ryan’s commentary as justified or just trolling, there’s little denying that his words sting more now that Jones appears to be walking away from both elite competition and his own gym.
Craig Jones Retirement – What Happens to His Legacy?
Craig Jones never won an ADCC gold medal, but few have influenced the no-gi landscape more in the past decade. From redefining leg lock systems to turning instructionals into viable careers, Jones has helped change the culture of modern jiu-jitsu.
The Craig Jones retirement—if it becomes official—will be the end of an era.
But more concerning for many fans is the fate of B-Team, which has become a hub for high-level grapplers and aspiring competitors alike. Will it dissolve? Will it fracture into new brands? Or will someone step up and steer the ship?
As of now, Jones is still scheduled to compete at CJI 2. But whether that will be his final bow—or the last we hear from B-Team in its current form—remains unclear.
The End of B-Team or Just a Reboot?
The main keyword Craig Jones retirement isn’t just about a single athlete stepping away—it’s a signal that the brand he helped build may not survive without him. Between ownership issues, strategic confusion, and outside mockery, B-Team seems to be on shaky ground.
Whether Jones officially retires or returns for one last dance, his departure is already rippling across the jiu-jitsu world. And if B-Team does rebrand or dissolve, it’ll be a case study in how personality-driven gyms rise—and sometimes fall—when structure fails to keep up with ambition.
